Gabriels Standards

I head to the armory like Torbjorn requested I do before heading out, to find him engrossed in his work.

When calling his name three times for him to not answer doesn't work, I zap him on the shoulder.

He jumps in his chair as his tools scatter to the ground below.

"You scared me. You shouldn't sneak up on me like that or my turrets would think you're trying to hurt me and attack."

I was going to reply that I wasn't scared of his turrets, but after witnessing them take down Bastion units easily, I wasn't too keen on fighting them.

Picking up his tools for him, I begin to question what he's working on.

"So, what did you need me for?"

"Your shield. How exactly does it work?" He asks.

"Well, I input a constant flow of electricity through a part that creates an electromagnetic field.

Any bullets, from either side comes into contact with the electromagnetic shield will have an intense current run through it. This will create a repulsive force on the bullet.

The repulsive force pushes back against the bullet slowing its trajectory down until it stops before the electromagnetic shield."

Torbjorn listens intently to my explanation and only when Im done does he ask questions.

"So, it blocks all bullets on both sides?"

I nod my head.

He leans back in his chair. "I see."

There's silence for a moment before he snaps back forward.

"By the time you come back from your thing with Gabriel, I should have an upgraded version of your shield."

My eyebrows rise in surprise, "Oh? Well ok thanks I guess."

"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it because I think I might be able to incorporate this into my turrets."

An announcement comes on the overhead.

"We are approaching our destination, be prepared for landing within the next thirty minutes."

Torbjorn turns back to what he was working on.

"Try not to die before you get the upgrade."

I wonder what kind of evaluation Gabriel has planned for me if that's his attitude.

I exit the plane to find we're inside the hangar of the mountain, with hundreds of other planes sitting dormant with thousands of people running around.

I was instructed to head towards a certain section where my plane was waiting for takeoff.

I knew what battle they were going to fight next and wanted to be a part of that battle, but I since I had no ranking of my own, I had to do what I was told and head over to New York.

The plane was a jet that would get me to my destination within five hours.

With a lot of time on my hands and nothing to do, I really considered mediating.

But the Zazen technique made you look inward and reflect on your actions as thoughts flowed freely.

I was not ready for the guilt trip that it was going to put me through.

I needed a to focus on whatever task Gabriel had for me instead of being worried about the choices and decisions I've made in recent weeks.

So, instead I eat a berry flavored melatonin gummy and pass out for the rest of the trip.

I wake up to see myself parallel to the ground and moving.

I attempt to stretch, but find my movements restricted and I look up to see what's binding me so.

To my disappointment, I'm being carried like a plank of wood tucked under S3bastians arm.

"What are you doing?" I question S3bastian.

"I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't, no matter how much or how hard I would shake you. So, I'm being the responsible one and taking you to boss man on time." He explains.

I was going to complain about how uncomfortable the way he was carrying me, but I decided to instead focus on how he was actually being responsible for once.

"Thanks, S3bastian. I'm glad I don't have to worry about you doing or saying something off the wall for once."

He pauses for a moment. "Welllllll... never mind. I apologize in advance."

"What does that mean?" I question but he ignores me.

As I go to question him again, he walks through double doors to a large meeting room with a wooden round table with a dark-skinned man with short black hair and a circle beard.

He was sitting with both hands together in front of his nose, and when we walk in, his face is clear with disappointment.

I was currently still under S3bastians arm so I could tell that I wasn't making a good first impression.

It takes me two minutes to free myself from S3bastian because he doesn't understand my cues for him to free me.

Once free, I jump to my feet and salute to Gabriel.

He stands and I see he's taller than I imagined him to be as he gracefully strides across the room to stand right in front of me.

"From now on, I don't want you wearing your mask unless you're out in the field. Understood."

"Yes sir." I respond as I click my mask back to reveal my face.

On seeing my face, he lets out a disapproving sigh.

"I'm glad to see that you two think this is a game. War isn't a game. Lives are on the line. You want to be a member of Overwatch? Then act like it! Go to the bathroom and clean yourself up, then report back to me!" He yells and I turn to exit the room confused.

I look at S3bastian who refuses to meet my gaze and I know instantly somethings up. Running to the nearest bathroom, I look into the mirror and deadpan.

With a marker, there are numerous dicks drawn on my face, some with hair.

On my forehead is written, 'Meat?' With an arrow pointed towards one of the dicks.

S3bastian slowly enters the bathroom, "You can't be mad, because I apologized in advance."

I want to rip his arms off, but I decide to deal with him later as I don't want to keep Gabriel wanting.

Managing to wipe off the profanities off my face, we make our way back to the meeting room where Gabriel has a scowl on his face.

"Sorry about that sir, it won't happen again."

"Judging from the report I read about you two, it most likely will. Child genius, eh? What makes you think you're up to Overwatch standards?" He asks.

"I have the tools required to assist Overwatch in their crusade against this omnic menace." I respond.

"I'm aware of the weapon of mass destruction next to you. What I mean is something else?

When you hear about the true meaning of Overwatch, it's not from the soldiers who brag about how many omnics they killed so far.

It's not from the generals who plot what our moves to benefit themselves.

It's from those who thought they lost everything.

The same people who were hiding in their basements for weeks, with legions of Bastions wandering right outside their doors never knowing when help was coming.

Those who were staring down the end of a barrel held by an omnic while they only had their fists to defend themselves.

There are many things that win wars, but the main factor is hope.

Overwatch is that hope.

We're the ones that when faced with the impossible, have to make it possible.

Overwatch is the one that when we know it's a losing battle, our soldiers will charge right in anyway in the hopes of turning the tides.

You think when there's a mass of Bastions sieging a city and your comrades are falling one by one, that the soldiers are going to turn to a boy with dicks drawn on his face?

You tell me, can you be the one to instill hope when where there isn't any?"

His words make my recent actions resurface as I think back to leaving all those guys in the omnium surrounded by Bastions.

I take a deep breath and clear the memory once again before looking Gabriel right in the eyes and saying yes.

He stares at me for a couple of seconds, and I can see he's searching for something like a sign that reveals something about me.

He suddenly turns around, walking back to his chair.

"We'll see. There's a reason why I called you to New York.

Out of all the cities in the United States, it got hit the hardest.

Its constantly swarmed with waves of omnic attacks.

Your evaluation is to lead a team to an omnium and shut it down."

I deadpan for a second as I process what he's said.

"Isn't that a bit much?" I ask.

"Where's your confidence kid? What happened to having the tools to assist Overwatch?" He counters.

"Well yeah, but did anyone else have to do this?" I ask.

"No, there's only one more who has to get evaluated but she'll have her time. You have to do this because you have more in your arsenal to handle omnics then we do.

Plus, you won't be alone, you'll be accompanied by me and one other rookie."

I get excited a but as i wonder who this new rookie is.

"Can I ask who this rookie is?"

"You can, his name is Soundquake."