Overwatch: The Alternate Future

Chapter 21 : Ana

Temple of Anubis

Ana watched as the last MEKA mech dived straight for the entrance and exploded. No omnics or humans within 20 metres of it survived the blast.

"Oh my," Mercy clasped her mouth.

Ana would have had the same reaction if Soldier 76 did not inform her earlier that getting D.Va to sacrifice herself was all part of his prediction.

"Team! Go!" Soldier 76 instructed without batting an eye.

Soldier 76 and Jack Sprinted ahead. Reinhardt Charged through. Genji dashed forward and Mercy activated her Guardian Angel wings and followed them. Ana locked her Biotic Rifle at them and saw that they entered the Temple successfully.

Ana then positioned herself on top of the jet. Her role was to heal with her rifle from afar and to provide both recon and healing assist to the frontline teams. Ana may be old but she still has the reflex to snipe darts at both allies and enemies. Whenever an enemy came too close to her, Ana launched her Sleep Dart before finishing them off with a special Biotic Grenade concoction that degenerates the healing factor of any cells and electronic circuits it came into contact.

Ana was never the one that boast about herself but she could not help but admitted that she and Gabriel were carrying this team. Their experience in the battlefield gave them the upper hand while making sure none of the enemies were able to retreat back into the Temple. She looked down at Gabriel launching his Death Blossom. Ana would never thought they would be on the same sides again after their toxic history.

Ana flashed back to Oasis where Jack had Mercy informed him on the procedure that made him what he is now. Mercy mentioned how she had perfected her Resurrection ability and could help Gabriel on his condition. The tension between Jack and Gabriel was still burning but Gabriel was willing to put it all aside, if and only if, young Jack could go back in time and fix all this. Ana could not in all honestly see that Gabriel had switched sides but it was a start and Ana missed him.

"Ana, I need heals!" Gabriel called out through her earpiece.

"Ahh," Ana playfully scoffed. "It's just a scratch. Walk it off!"

Ana smiled as she shot a healing dart at Gabriel. She hoped that this mission was a success. That young Jack could go back in time and change all of their history. Relive the glory moments of Overwatch and heal the world that she had failed to protect.

Ana then looked up and among the flying Helix security guards, she spotted her daughter, Fareeha, shooting rockets from the sky. Ana was both proud and disappointed at the choices Fareeha had made. This was not the life Ana had wanted for her daughter. Ana fought every day in her youth so Fareeha never have to. Ana had blood stained in her arms so Fareeha would never need to know the scar of killing someone. Ana was an Overwatch soldier so Fareeha could be an accountant or a manager or someone boring behind a desk – a safe-working-environment desk.

The conflicting hopes for Fareeha's futures had dented their relationship. But Ana was willing to risk her daughter's love if it meant making sure Fareeha was safe. Ana watched as a bullet pierced through Fareeha's armor. Ana shot a healing dart at her while painfully reminding herself that she had failed as a mother.

Fareeha landed beside her.

"Thank you for the assist, mother," Fareeha said. She was happy to see Ana.

Ana tried to force a smile but she can't. Fareeha detected it.

"You still don't think I can do it, can you?"

"It's not –"

"I am chief security of my Helix team and I was among the few that founded the new Overwatch team and you still don't trust me?"

"You know exactly that's not what I meant," Ana argued as she shot another healing dart at an ally. "I don't want you to risk your life like this, Fareeha. You are a gorgeous young woman who should be travelling the world and finding a good man."

"That's not the life I want. I want to help the world. I want to save it."

"You can save the world by being a – being a – lawyer!"

"Can a lawyer save this right now?" Fareeha challenged her mother. "Can a lawyer stop this fight? And besides, I know a woman who travelled the world, found a good man and still have time to whip out a rifle during her free time."

Fareeha grinned at Ana and Ana smiled back.

"I've always dream of fighting beside you," Fareeha said.

"Wanting you safe was all I ever dreamed off," Ana said. "But I'm proud of you Fareeha."

With that Fareeha gave Ana a quick hug and launched up into the sky.

Ana watched her proudly for a bit before resuming her position.

The tide of the battle changed with all the MEKA either left or destroyed and the remaining Overwatch and Helix team were struggling. Even Ana had to work double time to save as many people as she can.

Two moans caught her attention.

Below was Gabriel hiding behind a broken MEKA. Blood oozing out from his black robes. Above was Fareeha being sniped in the sky. Ana stared at the simmering blue dart attached to the back of her arm. Her Nanoboost is an expensive concoction that sparked the cells to not only regenerate faster but also increased stamina and vitality. She only have one of this and it was only for the utmost emergency.

Time stopped for Ana as her eyes strayed from Fareeha to Gabriel and back to Fareeha. Who needs it more? Strategical versus emotional. Victory versus love. The world versus her daughter's future.

Ana bit her lips and said to her earpiece, "Gabriel!" Ana shot her Nanoboost at Reaper and watched as surge of blue electricity coursed his body. "You're powered up! Get in there do some damage!"

Ana then switched her aim immediately for her daughter but it was too late. Fareeha was plunging down at accelerating speed.

Ana shot a healing dart and missed. And she missed again. And she missed again and again. Her fingers were trembling and she knew she could no longer aim. She watched her precious daughter fell head first on to the ground.

"FAREEHA!" Ana cried as she tossed her rifle aside.

"Ana, assumed your position!" Soldier 76 said in her earpiece but Ana yanked the communicator off.

Ana slid down the jet and ran straight for her daughter. A Los Muerto member intercepted but she shot a Sleep Dart at him. Ana lifted the barely conscious Pharah in her arm. Tears streamed down her face.

It was not supposed to be like this. Fareeha was supposed to be an accountant or a manager or someone boring behind a desk – a safe-working-environment desk.

"Fareeha no! No! No!"

Fareeha flashed her one last smile before a rocket landed above them.