As it usually did, Nathan felt he awoke mere moments later, as if reeling from an intense night of drinking turned blur. It was uneventful when he woke up; No violent stirring or sudden gasping, just opening his eyes and lying there as he stared at the ceiling. Tranquil enough that nobody noticed his opened. Slowly, he craned his head up to see Cooper's head resting on his stomach and Rex sleeping alongside his right leg. Something brushed against his right ear and he looked up to see Veronica sitting against the wall, sleeping, cradling his head on a makeshift pillow. For once, Nathan felt at ease when he awoke.

His ease quickly faded when a gentle, blue glow grew on him and looked to see a floating, mostly porcelain-white machine hovering over him. It had a mostly humanoid figure that was quite slender and feminine, with elegantly smooth angles. Every limb was disjointed from their respective sockets but kept stationary by some unseen force, possibly magnetized. She had a pair of large "wings" that floated in conjunction with the rest of her body. And her face looked almost human, aside from it being a translucent blue, emanating from a projector he could faintly see through her façade. The logo on her forehead consisted of a waterdrop and a segment half-circle encompassing the bottom. Her expression was inquisitive as she looked down at Nathan.

She took on a friendlier demeanor when she hovered closer to the ground and held her eerily human-like, petite hand to his chest. Hovering mere millimeters from his skin. Nathan watched in silent intrigue as her blue glow made him feel sleepy, again.

"Vitals… Normal," she spoke with a slight reverb, like other automatons. "Heart rate… A bit higher than resting. Sorry about that," she flashed a sheepish smile. "But overall… Stable. Welcome back. I hope you had a pleasant rest, Nathan."

"Who are…?" Nathan groaned, rubbing his eyes.

"The designation my friends give me is 'Echo'. Please, feel free to use it. And thanks."

"Urgh… For what?"

Nathan's stirring eventually caused Veronica to open her eyes, lighting up as soon as she noticed he was awake.

"You're okay!" Veronica tiredly elated, putting a hand on his cheek to look at him.

"Yeah… Yeah, I'm here, Veronica," Nathan replied, tiredly smiling up at her.

Echo floated away to give them space, watching as how the dogs stirred awake, as well, and went up to lick Nathan's face.

"I was just giving Nathan my thanks for helping to set me free with McCree and the others. You'll be glad to know he has a clean bill of health," Echo said.

"Thank you, Echo," Veronica replied.

"No problem, Veronica. Also, we are approaching Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Now would be a good time to get him on his feet. I'll be in the cockpit if you need me."

With that, Echo floated away to the front of the ship. Veronica helped Nathan sit up, although, he didn't need her to stand on his own legs. He felt Veronica was thinking otherwise, but he couldn't blame her. He got up to his full height, just fine, before she forced him to sit down on a nearby seat. Keeping her hands firmly planted on his shoulders as she sat beside him. They sat in silence as their lulling fatigue faded, no other company in the cabin other than the dogs. Cooper resting his head on Nathan's left knee, Rex curled up at their feet like a shield.

As they relished in their silence, Nathan turned his head to Veronica and looked at her for a moment. The two of them studied each other for several moments until Veronica smiled and leaned over to him. Resting her head against his broad shoulder as she hugged his arm.

"Can you promise to not make me so worried about you, next time?" She scooted to get closer to him.

Nathan frowned at her. Opting to pet Cooper's head, instead.

Veronica sighed. "Well, at least promise you'll visit old Mormon Fort when we're… Done with all of this."

Nathan looked at her, again, but didn't frown. "I planned to, regardless," he assured her. "It's been a while since I've made calls."

She heard the tinge of regret in his voice, silently feeling remorse for what she said. They haven't seen each other in years, and she has no idea what he's been up to in the months since his disappearance. Nathan offered to listen to their story, but she should've offered to listen to his, as well. Their friendship has always been lopsided in that regard.

Light flickering into the cabin made Veronica turn her head and look out the window behind them, the sight outside enough to make her let go of Nathan.

"Woah…"

Nathan turned around to see what she was seeing, and saw the wide expanse of the Mediterranean Sea glistening thousands of feet below them as they peeled in. The land of Gibraltar with all of its buildings and ports came into view as they passed the clouds, countless ships docked and waiting. And standing tall over the rock was the "derelict" base of Watchpoint: Gibraltar, like a dim beacon that has long since been extinguished. Solidly built into Gibraltar like the mountain itself.

Nathan didn't share the interest he saw on Veronica's face – he's already seen it dozens of times, before – and realized how much he took the sight for granted. Most Wastelanders were permanently grounded. They were among the lucky few.

He let her take it all in, turning away to look at the ship's floor.

Home had finally reached him. Home had finally found him. How did they get here? Did they have a way to get back? What happened in his absence? So, many questions, theorizing the possibilities. For once, there was a finally a way home, a way for him to get back to the Mojave. Despite all that, he wasn't jumping for joy. Everything was coming so fast. Especially after what he had done in America.

And who was that man at the bottom of the canyon?

The Courier wallowed about the near future, what would need to be done for him and his friends to get back home. See how Overwatch can assist him in achieving that.

That is why he joined, right? They can help, right? He's already been with them so long, there's no possible way they would just… No. No, he grew to rely on them. And they grew to rely on him. At least, a few of them. Whether he had planned on it or not. Yet, when has he ever?

No… No, right now, he should be focused on getting some rest and dealing with it later. That's probably what the Follower next to him would say. Or what he would've said to her, years ago.

Yeah, he never planned on introducing friends to each other. New or old. He wondered how they would react to each other. He had a feeling Torbjörn and Veronica would get along. No idea about Hana, though. Probably the dogs.

The familiar sensation of the ship decreasing velocity interrupted his stupor, no longer tired but still reeling from his thoughts. Noticing the dogs were looking up at him, as if sniffing out his worries. He was glad the view distracted Veronica.

'She doesn't deserve that,' he thought.

He stood up and gathered his gear. The straps of his long-gun holster adjusting to his torso as he picked up his pack and hoisted it over one shoulder. As the ship lowered to the ground, the occupants walked over to the side-door. Ana, Jack, and Nathan instinctively grabbed something solid to hold as this ship finally touched down and jostled, the other Wasters being thrown off balance for a moment. Nathan smirked at Veronica, who lightly punched him on the shoulder. However, he noticed they were short a member.

"Where's Jesse?" His smirk disappeared and looked around the cabin.

"He said he had business to attend to," Echo said as she floated up beside him. "I don't know what that means."

"Of course," He scoffed.

"But he did tell me to give this to you when you woke up."

Echo gracefully held her hand up to Nathan, presenting a metal tube to him. Nathan's brow furrowed as he grabbed it and held it up to his eyes. It was a cigar and had a label saying, "Made in Cuba". He smirked before putting it into his pocket.

The dropship's door slid open and the occupants touched down onto solid ground. Nathan was used to the surroundings, like Ana and Jack, and was comforted being back in this home away from home. Where he knew he could get some much-needed rest, as long as Lena or Hana didn't bother him. However, he looked back to see the other Wasters barely a step away from the dropship. Never seeing a military installation so large, so advanced, and so clean before in their lives, gawking at what was practically this base's "porch". Nathan especially enjoyed the look on Veronica's face, unable to shed that Scribe intuition. He envied that wonder she held for new places.

"Hey, you've brought some new friends!" A husky voice made Nathan turn around to see Winston accompanied by Angela and Lena, already greeting Jack and Ana.

"Well, they're Nathan's friends, first and foremost," Jack gestured to the Wasters, mindful of his voice's volume with personnel around.

"So, I've heard." Winston sighed, now confronted with actual solid evidence of Nathan's background. Hardly believing what he heard over the comms earlier if it wasn't coming from Jack and Ana. Just in time, as Nathan's novelty was starting to wear off. "Well, I guess that settles it, then."

While the Scientist knew what Morrison was inferring, his Pilot friend next to him didn't.

"Wait, what?" Lena questioned with a puzzled expression. "They're Nathan's friends? What's that even mean… Ooooooohhh! Wait, what?!"

"Oh, no," Winston winced as he watched Lena's face shift into varying degrees of shock and confusion, before finally settling on elation.

As Lena was about to start bouncing around, Veronica walked up next to Nathan, looking at the sight before them. Boone and Parmley accompanied her, equally astonished by what they saw. Nathan didn't even notice until she spoke up.

"Umm… Is that a talking gorilla?" Veronica asked, looking up at Nathan.

"Yup," he responded, nonchalantly.

Parmley croaked out, next. "What's a gorilla?"

Brin looked at the Ranger for a moment, before chuckling and shaking his head. Oh, this might be a long day.

"Nathan, you find some really weird friends, no matter where you go," Veronica observed, almost sounding like she was scolding him.

He laughed, again, patting Veronica on the back reassuringly. "Trust me, it gets weirder."

As if on cue, Lena blinked over to the Wasters and appeared in front of them in a blue streak. Delighted to meet new people from another world. All the Wastelanders except Nathan flinched.

"Hiya!" The bubbly Brit greeted with a beaming smile that faded when she realized how startled Nathan's friends were.

"Told ya'," Brin said to them. "Lena, you really gotta stop doing that."

"Yeah, reckon I should. Shouldn't I?" Lena smiled sheepishly at his friends before straightening herself and extending her hand. "Sorry! Didn't mean to. Name's Lena. Pleased to meet people out of this world!"

The search party exchanged several unsure glances amongst themselves before Veronica took the initiative and shook Lena's hand, the others following suit. After properly introducing herself to them, she looked at Nathan before blinking a short distance and wrapping her arms around his torso. The large man was caught off-guard but sighed as he wrapped an arm around her for a moment.

"You gotta stop doing that, too," Nathan said.

"What? Welcoming you back?" Lena questioned, finally letting go of him.

"Blinking such a short distance to do so. Almost knocked me off my feet."

"Hmm, fine."

That didn't convince him.

The rest of the welcoming party, Winston and Angela, approached the Wasters. Winston was the first of the two.

"Hi, there!" He greeted, trying to be as welcoming to offset his obvious appearance. "My name's Winston, and welcome to Watchpoint: Gibraltar."

The Wasters all made their introductions with varying degrees of astonishment and suspicion, but they kept their calm since Nathan kept calm. As Nathan watched them, silently amused by their exchanges with the talking gorilla, Angela approached him with a holopad in hand. Dutiful and prepared as ever. He gave a deep nod to her, and she returned likewise.

"How are you feeling, Nathan?" She asked, ever prudent.

"Just fine, Dr. Ziegler," Nathan reassured her, looking down at himself to make sure he did look fine and not cause her undue worry.

"I hope so. I don't want the After-Action Report to make me usher you into the infirmary, again."

"It won't. How about you? Back from Russia, I see."

"They seemed to have a handle on things when I left, both the Russians and our detachment still there. I'm confident I left the medical well-being of everyone there in good hands."

"Are you?"

Dr. Ziegler glanced at Nathan before her façade cracked and she smiled, laughing somewhat nervously.

"Confident enough," the Doctor clarified.

"I'm sure they're fine," Nathan reassured her, again. "Your confidence goes a long way for them."

She nodded, both turning to look and listen to the exchange currently happening between Veronica and Winston.

Although he hadn't seen Veronica in years, the way she was conversing with the Scientist told him that she was warming up quite quickly to him. Introductions going smoothly for the rest of them. He was glad.

"So, your friends found you," Angela stated, looking up at Nathan. "You must be really excited."

Nathan looked at her, seeing those blue eyes stare up at him, happy for him. However, the longer he stared at her the more he saw she was tired, still reeling from her time in Russia, her time in Iraq, her time everywhere all over the world – for Overwatch and before. The fact that she could muster such a smile despite everything made it hard for him to lie to her. The Good Doctor didn't deserve that, especially from him.

"Honestly?" Nathan Brin started, earnestly regarding Dr. Ziegler. Almost wanting to pull out that cigar already. "I think things just got a lot more complicated. That we're going to have a lot more to do before the days done. Obviously, I don't hold it against them for finding their way here, going through God knows what to come and find me. And save me. But…"

He paused, as if needing to be careful about the next few words he was going to say, until he looked at Angela, again. She was quiet and stared up at him, giving her full attention. Wanting to hear the rest of what he has to say before doing anything else. She was stoic, almost, but not uncaring. Nathan felt at ease being next to her. Another moment of her gaze drove him to continue.

"But… I'm really glad they're here," he pushed on. "Haven't seen some of them for so long. Long before I got stuck here. Good friends. People I've come to rely on. Like you."

Angela cracked a little smile before she gave a little bow of her head. "Thank you, Nathan."

"No problem." He mustered another smile. "It's just… I'm worried for them, now. What they might go through. Just to help me."

Several moments of silence followed after he had finished, Angela regarding him with those blue eyes while he just focused on his friends just a couple meters from them. Looking down at her feet for a second, she brushed a strand of hair from her face before stepping over to him and placing hand on his shoulder. He silently welcomed it.

"I would be worried, too. It's only natural that you would be for anyone you care about," Angela said, squeezing him softly. "But remember: They came here by themselves, and for you. They care about you so much that they made a choice to come here. So, try not to feel bad for them. Be happy that your friends are here, and because of that, you're a little bit less alone."

He looked down at her hand.

"They were many times in my life where I felt alone," she went on, guiding her hand down from his shoulder to his chest. "That I wish I had someone to be near me. Just someone that I could talk to and listen. Really, all anyone ever has is each other. And I'm thankful for the people I have, or have had, in my life. Here, or anywhere else."

She kept her hand on him, feeling his warmth seeping into her open palm. Nathan felt the light and delicate touch of her hand on him. How warm it also felt to him.

"I'll try to remember that," Nathan Brin smiled at her.

The Doctor smiled. "I'm sure this goes without saying, but if you want to talk, you only have to ask."

Nathan looked at her hand before reaching up to it and patting it. Gently, of course. "Thank you, Dr. Ziegler."

"And you don't have to be so formal," she gently declared. "You've been here long enough. I don't think I've ever heard you refer to me as anything but 'Dr. Ziegler'. We're practically– No. We are neighbors by this point. So, lighten up a little, okay? For me?"

Nathan frowned, not sure if he was comfortable for ignoring her title, important as it was. Although, he relented with a defeated sigh.

"Sure thing, Doc," he said, emphasizing the common nickname.

Angela scoffed. "That's better," she said, before finally letting her hand down from his chest. Still feeling remnants of his warmth on her fingers.

She looked at Nathan's friends before looking at him. "I think we need to get your friends adjusted."

"Of course." Nathan could only agree with that. However, before they walked over to them, he noticed Veronica taking glances at him. Or, taking glances at Angela.

They got close to hear the conversation was starting to wind down.

"Now, I'm sure you have many questions about resolving your… Uh, predicament involving your displacement," Winston said, mindful of the others standing outside the landing pad. "Or anything that you may be unfamiliar with in our home. I'll be more than happy to discuss any and all details, now. at my office. It's the least I can do, especially since your friend has already done so much for us."

"We've got a few, but…" Veronica looked back at the rest of the search party, seeing how disheveled and tired they mostly were. The bruise on her cheek still stung even after some first aid attention. "I think we could use some rest, right now."

"Oh, of course! Rest is important, right. Can't really discuss or do anything if we're all nodding off."

Before Winston was about to step aside and let them through to enjoy some good ol' R&R, Angela stepped in.

"But before we can do any of that," she began, addressing everyone. "I will need to run some quick check-ups on all of you. Especially given the circumstance you share with Nathan. Don't worry, it's really just a formality, but we can't be too sure."

All the Wasters regarded Dr. Ziegler before looking over to Nathan, who was standing right next to her with his arms crossed. He shrugged.

"What're you all looking at me for?" He asked. "She's the doctor, go follow her. You'll be in very good hands."

With his comment, his friends all exchanged glances with each other before Veronica shrugged and stepped forward.

"If you say so, Nate," Veronica said, acting as if she was reluctant when she wasn't. "I'm not going to get probed somewhere I shouldn't, am I?"

"Don't worry. Our facility is state-of-the-art and has grown beyond such practices," the Doctor reassured before turning her head at Veronica. "Unless you would be more comfortable with such procedures?"

They all laughed.

"Forget I ever asked, Doctor," she begged, smirking.

The landing area was soon vacated, save for Nathan who stood there and watched as the others left him behind. Rerunning the words Angela had spoken to him before she disappeared out of view, but not before spotting her looking over her shoulder at him. Same with Veronica. He broke the gaze of where they were when he looked down and saw the dogs were sitting right next him, looking up at him and waiting. He bent down and pet them both, giving them scratches and pets that he's long overdue for. Scratching Rex behind that one spot in his ear, and vigorously patting Cooper on his rump. Without a word, he got up and started walking in the direction the others went, giving a silent command that made the dogs come along.

Veronica stood still as hot water comfortably washed over her. The water pressure letting her enjoy the sensation without feeling bombarded by tiny pebbles out of a leaky shower head. Barely concerned with actually cleaning herself as she was letting the warmth envelop as much of her body as she could. Good, hot showers were such a rare commodity back in the Mojave after her time in the Brotherhood, sometimes during. Two-hundred-year-old showerheads tended to not provide the best experience when used by an entire base of U.S. Military descendants. Now, she had the luxury of using a shower that wasn't centuries older than her. And it was fantastic.

Almost falling asleep before she heard knocking on the bathroom door.

"You know there's soap and shampoo in there, right?" She heard Nathan call out from outside.

Veronica looked at the shower's shelf and found two bottles containing the respective substances. She would've rolled her eyes if she wasn't also eager to try out some self-care products that weren't older than her.

"Thanks," she feigned annoyance, betraying the small smile.

"Also got you a fresh pair of clothes," Nathan told her, holding a plastic-wrapped roll of Overwatch branded apparel. "Ain't your style, but they're clean."

"Thanks, again," she didn't feign annoyance.

"You're welcome," he replied, setting the clothes aside as he sat down on the floor in front of his bathroom door, and waited as the dogs kept him company.

The medical evaluations with Dr. Ziegler were quick and efficient. It concluded in her giving everyone a clean bill of health, barring a few bruises and scrapes they had from the day before, but nothing the seasoned Wastelanders couldn't shake off. The next thing on the agenda was getting them properly situated in the base. Unsurprisingly, Nathan took the helm for that.

Since the Watchpoint was getting smaller by the day, Nathan offered them to use his own personal bathroom in his quarters. Of course, Veronica claimed dibs, first, but the other two men were fine putting it off as they still had to find a place to safely stow away all their Wasteland gear. Wouldn't be smart to leave two sets of Power Armor out in the open. So, Nathan just opted to keep Veronica and the dogs company.

They had been conversing ever since she left the infirmary, taking a short break when Nathan went to retrieve her fresh clothes and Veronica had started showering. Really, she was answering questions he had:

"How have you been?"

"What are you up to, nowadays? Before all this, of course."

"How are things back home?"

The usual.

Now, as he sat there giving Rex his turn of ear scratches while Cooper made himself comfortable on the bed, another question came up: "Hey, Veronica, how d'you find me?"

Veronica stopped rubbing shampoo into her hair.

"We made calls to your friends in Big Mountain," she answered, resuming lathering. Trying to make it as soapy and frothy as possible.

"Really, now? How the hell did you manage to meet those recluses?"

"The same way you met them. Getting teleported there against our will. Well, not exactly, but it's an apt description for the important bits."

"Didn't encounter any trouble on the way to Big Mountain, then?"

Veronica paused, again, as her mind instantly flashed to everything that happened to them in the Mojave. Everything that happened in that cave with that strange man and the Brotherhood. And, of course, there was everything they "uncovered" in Big Mountain itself when they got there. Recounting the strange robots that were undoubtedly from this new world and were actually the ticket to here.

And how could she ever forget the "Tunnelers"? The second reason they were here, trying to find their friend. Unable to forget the way their eyes glowed after looking upon them, just once. Not even aware of how many times Nathan had to look at them and fight them on his lonesome in the Divide. Now encroaching out onto the Mojave, looking for new prey. Another burden for Nathan to right when he comes back.

She wondered why he's stuck so far away from home despite going through so much. It just wasn't fair to someone like him, whose done so much for so many. Including her. And it certainly wasn't something she wanted to burden him with so late into the day, seeing him in the first time in years. She didn't want to sour the mood, yet. Everyone needed respite.

"We did, but I'd rather not spend the entire evening listing them all down. Not now. Don't wanna be pruney," she deflected, rubbing the soap off her body and watching discolored water go down the drain.

"It's fine," Nathan said, looking at Rex's brain dome.

The room fell silent with only the shower running, stopping a few minutes later. Nathan sat there, silently petting Rex and listening to whatever sounds came out of the bathroom. Eventually, he felt the door slid open slightly and looked over his shoulder to see Veronica peeking from the door looking down at him, a towel wrapped around her body and another wrapped around her hair. Without uttering a word, he handed her the roll of clothes. She uttered a quick "thanks" before retreating into the bathroom. A minute later, the door slid fully open and Nathan turned around to see her standing behind him, adorning new clothes.

"Huh," Nathan let out as he stood up to face her. "Fits you well."

"It does, doesn't it?" She remarked, looking down at herself and feeling how slim the clothes fit to her body but weren't constricting. She wore a plain, dark-blue shirt with the Overwatch logo over the right breast, combined with a pair of black cargo pants that were also a slim fit. While they certainly weren't something she would wear on a night-out onto the Strip, they were some of the most comfortable clothes she's ever worn. "They feel really nice. Feels like air, almost. Kind of a weird smell, though."

Nathan had a feeling she was going to make a lot of similar comments for similarly mundane things in the coming days. Entertaining to hear what a Waster has to say about the modern conveniences of a functional society. Well, almost functional society, but certainly more functional than theirs. Speculating how long it will take her to discover Google and promptly get overwhelmed.

"Hey, where's Boone and Parmley, by the way?" She asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Hmm, good question." Nathan looked over his shoulder to his holodesk. "Hey, Athena? You know where Boone and Parmley are?"

Her logo popped up, startling everyone in the room except Nathan. "Of course, Nathan, your friends are currently in the base's recreational lounge – the bar."

"Thanks." Nathan turned back to Veronica and see her expression. "Oh, right. Veronica meet Athena, the base's nanny. Athena meet… Well, you would've already known."

"Uhm, hi," Veronica let out.

"Hello, Veronica. A pleasure to meet one of Nathan's friends, finally," the nanny of Gibraltar greeted. "But I do take exception to that comment, mister."

He chuckled, gesturing to Veronica to come along with him and find the rest of their companions. With the dogs, they left the room and started walking through Watchpoint: Gibraltar, him taking point. It felt different walking through these halls while leading and guiding someone through it. Someone not just from his own world, but a close friend. He'd have to impart quite a bit of knowledge onto his friends if he didn't want them to get lost, not just directionally.

Although, he did glance over his shoulder and saw that she was able to keep up with his wide gait, occasionally gawking at things that caught her attention but taking care to not stray too far from her friend. Not hugging to him like a lost puppy, either.

'She'll be fine,' he hoped.

A minute more and Nathan led Veronica to his 2nd favorite spot after his bedroom – the bar. There were quite a few patrons in it as it was already getting late into the night, but it wasn't hard to find their friends sitting at the bar, already helping themselves to drinks. It helped that Reinhardt occupied a stool next them and seemed to be getting friendly, his bulk like a flare in a cave. Nathan felt like he should've expected this.

Without another word and a gesture to Veronica, they walked into the lounge and towards the bar. He caught several other patrons glancing at the new guys at the bar, but also caught other patrons staring at Veronica and the dogs. All of them wondering where these new people came from, and why their more notable members seemed interested in them. Most patrons, however, just stared at Rex.

Nathan resisted groaning as he got to the bar, and Reinhardt greeted him.

"Ah, Nathaniel!" the German greeted him with a wave of his beer mug. "I was wondering when you going to come. I was waiting for you to introduce your friends to me."

"Don't call me Nathaniel," Nathan said as he leaned against the bar. "Also, do you ever do anything besides drink, Wilhelm?"

"On a night like this, what else should I do?"

Nathan mulled over his response and couldn't really argue that point. Instead, going over and patting both Boone's and Parmley's shoulders. Reinhardt spotted Veronica and raised his glass to her.

"Hello, Fraulein!" He greeted, not losing an inkling of his enthusiasm. "You must be one of Nathan's old friends. What's your name?"

"Veronica," she answered as she walked up to him. "You?"

"I am Reinhardt Wilhelm!" He softly declared as he gently grabbed one of her hands into his large palm and planted a kiss on it. "At your service."

"Oh! Uh… Uh! Th-thank you…?" Veronica became befuddled, keeping her hand there as she was unsure what to do.

Reinhardt gently let her go as he threw his head back in laughter, then reaching over and sliding her an unopened, icy-cold beer. Nathan scratched his brow as he witnessed the entire thing.

"Christ, really?" Nathan scolded, but half-heartedly.

"You can't say chivalry is dead, otherwise," the Knight espoused.

"Veronica. Tell me if he bothers you more," he said to the ex-Scribe, but saw she wasn't really taking any offense to the rather harmless joke as she sipped on the beer Reinhardt offered to her.

He then looked to the Ranger and the Sniper.

"So, how has he been treating you?" He asked, occupying the stool next to them. "Running your ear off with his stories?"

"The opposite, actually." The Ranger smiled as he took swig from his bottle, clicking his tongue as he savored the taste. "When he came over, he knew that we were friends of yours and wanted to hear stories from us. It was bit weird – I thought he was a discolored Super Mutant at first – but he had some pretty good beers to sucker us in. Never had German beer, before."

"Huh, really? What were you telling him about?"

"Oh, I was just telling him about the time you came to Caruthers Canyon and how we drove the Legion out before they could get in."

Parmley was grinning ear-to-ear as he recounted the event that led to him becoming a Ranger, bumping the bottom of his beer against the counter before taking another hearty swig. Nathan looked at him as he remembered that place, the first time he's thought about it in years. Remembering what he and his companions went through when they traveled there. How much of a mess it was. Nathan not nearly as ecstatic as Parmley.

"I still owe you a drink for that," Parmley said, reaching over and patting Nathan's shoulder. "A lot of people do."

"Sure," Nathan replied, before leaning in. Maybe taking solace in that. "Just make sure you keep the Wasteland talk to a minimum around here. Only a few people, including Reinhardt, know we're from some fuck-all alternate dimension. Don't want everyone to suddenly know that."

"Oh, shit. Really? Damn, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know."

"It's fine. I probably should've told you that before you got close to the bar. Or Reinhardt."

Before Nathan could get the chance to scold the boisterous German, a bottle of beer was slid in front of him by Boone.

"Figured you could use a drink," the Sniper said, smiling at one of his few friends.

Nathan's eyes switched between the drink and Boone, scrutinizing the cold beverage as he picked it up, feeling the chill seep into his fingers. Oddly enough, he didn't feel like drinking. Most of his "sessions" usually consisted of him drinking himself until barely feeling anything, before waking up barely cognizant in his room or María's. Aside from one or two times, it was mostly solitary. Although, Brigitte and her father weren't bad drinking partners. Certainly not Reinhardt. Now? His friends were right in front of him and were getting their drinks on. People he hasn't seen for months, years even. They were all alive and in good health, and certainly people to converse with about the state of the Mojave – his favorite subject. If there was a time to rejoice, why not now?

'Ah, fuck it,' Nathan silently cursed as he wedged the bottle cap against the counter and bumped it off with the other hand. He could hear the others cheering as he brought the neck up to his lips and gulped. Downing about half of the bottle just a second after he got the cap off. Letting go, he smacked his lips and let the taste of the German brew properly marinate on his tongue. He liked it.

"We got any more?"

The lounge had gotten busier and louder with more patrons coming in to relieve themselves of the stresses of Overwatch, but it did nothing to detract the evening the Wastelanders were starting to enjoy. They had since displaced themselves to one of the bigger tables, Nathan and friends listening to an old story of Reinhardt's that involved him, an old mentor, and a short-tempered barmaid he once tried to woo in some town in Germany, with a name none of them could pronounce. They were amassing quite a bottle collection, and Nathan was already working on his fourth. Or was it his fifth? He wasn't sure but was cognizant enough to enjoy Reinhardt's. The whole table erupting into laughter as Reinhardt finished the rather embarrassing tale from his youth.

"Chivalry might as well have died at that point!" Nathan exclaimed, taking a hearty swig.

"Alas, I'm still haunted by my mentor's laughter after all these years," Reinhardt sighed with an almost content smile until he noticed the lack of drinks on their table. Full ones. "Ach, can we please get another round here? We've quite a thirst, still!"

When a modified training bot came around with a fresh batch of bottles, the table broke into soft cheering. Just in time, too, since Nathan just polished off his bottle and already had another one in his hands.

Before he could enjoy the first, fresh, crisp taste from the bottle, he heard a shrill noise come up from behind as slim arms wrapped around his neck and he was almost knocked into the table. His friends almost took defensive stances while Reinhardt just sipped from his mug.

"Annyeong, Uncle!" Hana greeted as she beamed and hugged the older man tight, placing her chin atop his head.

Nathan sighed as he looked at his friends and held up a placating hand to them. Hana's hair was wafting over his face. It smelled like bubblegum.

"Hey, kid," he greeted, patting one of the hands wrapped around him. Trying to ignore the looks his friends were giving him, mainly Veronica's.

"So, Nathan… Who's this?" Veronica asked with a mischievous smile.

A nearby table that couldn't help but be in hearing range of their table glanced at Veronica, wondering how she couldn't recognize a worldwide celebrity right in front of her. Nathan noticed the other table but didn't say anything.

The Kid decided to fill in for him. "Hi, I'm DVa!" She introduced, making Nathan frown under her.

"Her real name's Hana," he corrected.

"Oh, so noooowww you decide to use my real name?"

"Yeah. Lucky you."

Nathan scoffed before finally taking a clean sip from his fifth or sixth beer. She continued on.

"So, all of you are Nathan's friends, right?" Hana opened, looking at all of them while she latched onto him like a bloatfly to shit. They all nodded, not really sure how to respond to the young woman. Hana's eyes lit up a little. "Then that means you're all… Like…" She looked around the noisy and busy establishment, before speaking at a hushed volume. "Not from this world, right?"

"Kid, what do you think?" Nathan frowned, again, tilting his head to look up at her. Smelling more bubblegum as he blew her hair from his eyes.

She looked down at Nathan and up at his friends, quiet for several moments as she process all the information given to her. Her eyes lit up even more. "Woooow… That's freaking cool, I'm not gonna lie. I have so many questions I can't wait to ask you guys, especially since this old fart won't answer them."

"Hey!"

"But not here, of course. When things aren't as… Packed."

Before she could go on pestering Nathan and his friends, she looked down to her right and saw something that made her go wide-eyed, almost squealing as she hopped off the tall Waster to the floor. Nathan looked down to see what had caught her attention so fierce, watching her assault Rex with a barrage of pets. Restraining herself from outright hugging him.

"Oh my God! You are so cute!" She exclaimed, grinning ear-to-ear, kneeling right in front of him. Starting to baby talk the old police dog in Korean. Rex cocked his head at her before leaning over and licking her face, making her giggle. The noises she made increased tenfold when Cooper walked over to them, wanting to get in on the action.

Nathan let them be, wanting to get back to the beer.

"So, what does she do around here?" Veronica asks, Hana too enamored by the four-legged guests to notice the ex-Scribe asked about her.

"She flies a pink tank around," Nathan answered with a straight face.

"What?"

The night didn't get younger, but the space at their table grew a bit larger as there was now a chair for Hana, situated between Veronica and Nathan. However, because of her dislike of the drink they were having and several comments (from Nathan) expressing doubt in her ability to keep up with them, DVa had excused herself to retrieve something "different" from the bar. Reinhardt accompanied her.

The Wasters by themselves, for now, Veronica leaned toward Nathan, who was helping himself to a tiny of bowl of multi-colored candies filled with real chocolate. He liked them very much.

"You know, I've noticed something about this place," Veronica said, just loud enough for their table to hear.

"Hmm?" Nathan leaned toward her a little.

"There… Are a lot of attractive women in this place," Veronica stated, her eyes surveying the room for prime examples.

Nathan stopped chewing. "Oh, no. Nononono." He shook his head, vigorously. "I am not going to play your wingman, again! You just got here, and I still remember that deal we made."

"Relax! No, I'm not going to put you through that, again. I certainly wouldn't… But what I'm saying is: There's a lot of hot ladies here!"

The way Veronica looked at him instead of the room made Nathan frown, wondering what she was getting at.

"Yeah. And?"

"And I kinda wanna know – just so we're prepared when we finally get back home and leave – whose gonna be heartbroken when you're gone?"

That took a minute for Nathan to process, but he narrowed his eyes at Veronica when he did.

"Oh, come on…" The tall Wastelander sighed before sliding the bowl of candy away, having lost his appetite. "None of them."

"Oh, what a load of crap!" The ex-Scribe let out in accusatory disbelief. "Really? None of them? You've been stuck here for how long and none of them tickled your fancy?!"

"Certainly not enough to act upon it, no. Is that seriously hard for you to believe?"

He looked around the table for validation from the others. The looks both Veronica and Boone proceeded to give told him that it was actually hard for them to believe, almost feeling betrayed. Even Ranger Parmley, the newest addition to Nathan's ranks of companions, had an uneasy look on his face.

"I mean," Parmley started, sipping liquid courage. "Someone I knew – not me! - did see you talk to the town hooker by those tents and go around to the back of saloon, so…"

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Nathan held a hand up to make him stop, letting out an exasperated sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "But, just so we're clear, I didn't do anything to any of the women here. Baffling, I'm sure."

Veronica wasn't about to let that go. "Wait, so not even Hana? Who was getting all touchy-feely with you?"

"No! She's literally less than half my age! And she does that to annoy me."

"Not that one girl who turns into a flash a light every other second?"

"She swings the same way you do and has a girlfriend."

"What about Dr. Ziegler? You were getting pretty friendly with her, earlier."

Nathan hesitated, frowning slightly as he thought about the blonde medical officer. He really did like her as a doctor and a person. Always feeling sorry for her and wondering how she ended up here. Giving her pity she probably didn't need or want, lest it get in the way of her job. And it was good seeing her after coming back from America, seeing her feelings to him coming back seemed mutual.

"Nah, I couldn't do that to her," Nathan Brin earnestly said. "Besides, I hold a certain respect for doctors."

"Didn't stop you from getting with Straus back in Novac," Boone suddenly piped up with a smirk.

"She was a quack, not a doctor."

"You made her quack, alright."

They all started laughing, happily basking in the fond memories they all had of Nathan Brin's many "escapades" throughout the Mojave and beyond. Nathan silently impressed with Boone's quick thinking, conversationally speaking. However, Nathan did have María in the back of his head throughout the entire discussion but saw no reason to mention her currently. She wasn't Overwatch, anyway.

Then, as their laughter wind down, Nathan saw Veronica's expression quickly become stunned by something behind him. Nathan then feeling a firm hand plant itself on his shoulder.

"Got room for one more?" Brigitte Lindholm said as she looked down at Nathan and his friends. Her muscly arms and face glistened a little in the lounge's light, signifying she just got off from the gym or the workshop. Maybe both.

"Sure thing," Nathan said as he got up to scoot his chair over and retrieve a chair for her. "Everyone, this is Brigitte! Brigitte, these're my friends. I'm sure I don't have to tell you where they're from."

"I've gathered as much. Angela briefed me before I got here."

She thanked Nathan as he got her a spare chair to sit between him and Parmley. Boone and Parmley greeted her, but Veronica was silent as she watched her sit down across from her. Nathan noticing how her mouth was slightly agape until she snapped out of it and practically sputtered out a hello.

"It may be too early to ask this, but how are you guys enjoying being here, so far?" Brigitte asked as she looked around the table and leaned forward, giving Veronica ample view of her muscly forearms.

"Just fine, miss, thank you for asking," Parmley said, before gesturing to the ex-Scribe. "Veronica was made a fuss about how advanced this place seems earlier."

"Really?" Brigitte turned her head to the ex-Scribe. "You're Veronica, I presume?"

Veronica sputtered, again. "Uh, uh, y-yeah! Th-that's me! What's up?"

Nathan almost fell out of his chair.

"Haha, are-are you all right?" Brigitte asked, some nervous laughter emanating from her.

"Uh, yeah… Yeah! Sorry, it's probably the lights in here or something. I should probably head outside for a bit-"

Nathan interrupted her. "Now hold on!" He exclaimed, making her look at him with indignant eyes. "You were going on about this place, everything from the infrastructure to the defenses. And it makes sense since you two have a lot in common."

"Like what?" Veronica asked, then wincing as it prolonged the conversation and kept her a participant.

"Well, you two like building things. Using tools, machines, bare hands, and all that. And both of you have saved my life, at least once. Thanks again for the time in Numbani, by the way, Brig."

"No problem," Brig replied before looking at Veronica. "So, you're an engineer, too?"

"Eh, kind of." Veronica shrugged, resigned to her fate. "Was a Scribe for a while."

Before Brigitte could ask what a Scribe was, Reinhardt and Hana had finally return with what they wanted: a large bottle containing a clear substance and a half-dozen shot glasses. Brigitte recognized the labeling on the bottle.

"Oh, God, is that the Finnish vodka bottle?" She asked, involuntarily wrinkling her face.

"It is! Which makes it a find addition to this table!" Reinhardt boasted as he planted the bottle onto the table. Hana set down the platter of shot glasses, all of them crystal clean. "Who's up for a little game, then?"

Nathan looked at his empty bottle, but still had enough of his faculties to read the fine print. Well, he could read it but didn't understand a single lick since it was all in German. Nonetheless, his vision was fine, and he didn't feel like retiring into the night. The old Ödlander still had it in him and took a quick glance of everyone around to see they were the same. Years since he blacked out with any of them. Wanted to forget everything, just live in the moment, for once. Surrounded by those he cared about, and not just himself.

He, as well as everyone else at the table, were given a shot glass full of the Finnish vodka. Half of them not knowing what a Finland was. With a toast said in multiple languages, they all clinked their glasses together and downed the drink in solidarity. It went down hard and hot; Hana and Veronica scrunching up their faces, Boone letting out a disgusted groan, and everyone else baring through it.

Parmley firmly set down his glass and shook his head. "Wow! Pour me another one, I'm ready!"

"Woah, slow down, Ranger!" Nathan said. "Let it go down all the way, first. You don't wanna rush this."

"Oh, please, I've drank nastier, harder shit than this. Every Ranger does! Come on, give it to me, I can take it!"

Parmley was hunched over a patched of dirt outside of the lounge as he showered a poor shrub with the contents of his stomach, the sound of his violent retching contesting with the jukebox's music. Veronica and Brigitte were standing next to him, visibly concerned, while Nathan, Boone, Reinhardt, and Hana stood a few meters away and watched. Nathan not fazed by the sight of vomit as he threw his head back and drank, almost stumbling back as he now had a couple shots of vodka stewing inside him.

"It's always Rangers…" Nathan said as he wiped his mouth against his forearm. "Why do they always think their tracking skills transfer over to drinking?"

"Couldn't say," Boone replied, faring much better than the other NCR serviceman, but was getting there.

Parmley retched more, nearly collapsing onto the mess he was making if it wasn't for Brigitte and Veronica. Hana, with her phone out, gestured everyone to turn their backs to the Ranger. After doing so, she extended her arm in front of everyone, getting everyone just within frame of her phone's camera with the vomiting Ranger in the background. She held up two fingers and closed one eye, Reinhardt waved his mug with a big smile, and Nathan and Boone stood there and watched the phone flash. Hana turned back around looking at the photo.

"Oh, man, this is soooo funny," she slurred her words slightly, having this funny blush that made her usually pale face red as a Legionary. Didn't stop her from taking another sip from her drink as she bumped into Nathan, for the seventh time.

"Kid, you alright?" Nathan asked, looking down at her.

"I'm a grown woman!"

"That wasn't my question."

"I'm legal enough to drink in most places… I think."

Hana then began to giggle uncontrollably at nothing for a half-a-minute, until she was out of breath and snuggled up to Nathan, again. Getting really handsy with his bicep and rubbing her face into it like a pillow. Nathan tried to pull his arm away from her grip, but to no avail. He could feel more of her weight sink lower to the ground as she slowly began sliding down his arm, leaving a trail of drool along him.

"Fucking come on…" Nathan lamented, cringing at the shining streak on him.

"I think it's time for the kleine Hase to have some water," Reinhardt calmly said as he gently picked Hana up by one arm.

Hana shook herself awake for that moment, stumbling back into the lounge and cursing in Korean as Reinhardt took her in for non-alcoholic beverages. And just as one lightweight was taken away to recuperate, so would another when Veronica and Brigitte both had one of Parmley's arms hanging over the shoulders.

"We're taking him to Angela," Brigitte explained as they walked by.

"Good luck," Nathan said, then leaning towards Veronica to whisper in her ear. "Still need a wingman?"

"Fuck off…" Veronica quietly cursed at him, quiet enough for Brigitte to not hear.

As the two disappeared down the hall with Parmley in tow, Boone and Nathan went back into the lounge. While it was busier and louder an hour earlier, there was still quite a lot of activity, even this late into the night. Boone spotted Reinhardt and Hana at their table, the Korean girl holding Cooper like a toy and barely moving. The dog didn't look too sure about the situation.

Boone gestured Nathan to come with, but the Courier had other plans.

"Actually, I'll wait here for a bit," Nathan said, holding a hand up to the Sniper. "Rest up a little. Maybe see if there's anything else here, we can pilfer."

Boone looked at Nathan, wearing that trademark grimace of his that was as constant as his beret, but simply nodded and left his friend alone. Nathan watched him go before he let out a sigh and just sat himself on a stool. Despite the lounge being busy overall, the corner of the bar he occupied was sparse. It was right next to the jukebox, which was blaring another hit from the early-2000's, so that may have been why he was by his lonesome. Without a drink or a bowl of assorted treats to nestle, he was left with his thoughts.

His friends were here, they were alive and right here with everyone else. He just spent a night of drinking with them, introducing them to the others, and acting as if wasn't the first time he's seen them in years. He didn't ask any questions, yet, but he knew they went through hell and back just to find him. He could see it in their eyes, the second he looked at them back in America. The Courier saw what he had put them through. But they were there, now, and weren't leaving anytime soon. He hung his head low over the bar, nuzzling his neck with his scarred hand. He knew this moment of pleasantries was just that. A moment.

"You need to keep a closer eye on your friends, mister."

He felt the air change to his left and looked, Dr. Ziegler was standing there looking at him with a mildly disapproving face. However, the Swiss doctor couldn't keep the façade up as her expression softened, chuckling softly and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He scoffed, gesturing to the stool next to him, which she took.

Shaking her head as she seated herself next to him. "To think it only took this long for someone to get alcohol poisoning."

"I'm sorry. Truly, I am," Nathan stated, feigning complete remorse. "But we looked away for one minute…"

"It's fine, Nathan. Don't fault yourself for another's idiocy. But you should be apologizing to Aida, the poor girl, since I delegated the task of making sure his liver doesn't blow up to her instead of me."

"Hold on. She has to deal with the lightweight so you can be here at the bar, about to indulge yourself on the very concoction ailing him?"

"Yes."

Nathan was sober enough to give her the most incredulous look she's ever seen from him. She stifled another laugh.

"It does sound bad of me, doesn't it?" She asked. Rhetorical. "No, things were quiet at the clinic and she knew I was planning on relieving myself with some drinks later. She told me not to worry about your friend as she would take care of him."

"And you took up on it like that?"

"No. She insisted."

Angela took a moment to reach up to her ponytail, which was already starting to sag, and fully let it loose by removing her scrunchy. Finally, having another chance to relax.

"I did say that I was going to march over here to scold you, but I said that to make her feel better," she admitted, shrugging.

"Heh, a devil in disguise," Nathan quipped.

"Eh, only when no one gets hurt."

He smiled, nodding. Breathing a bit easier with someone to talk to.

"So, other than dealing with us, Wastrels, how have things been?" He asked, regarding her.

"As, I said, mostly quiet," Angela answered. "And uneventful, especially after the deployment to Russia."

"Miss it?"

"The people, yes. The weather? Not desirable."

"Amen to that! Christ, I can't stand snow. Anywhere!"

"Heh, while it was unbearably frigid in Siberia, snow isn't that terrible. It's not like it exists purely to torment you. It can be quite fun! I may be somewhat biased, but if you ever get a chance to go skiing in the Alps in Switzerland, you'll learn to love it. The best place in the world for it."

"Well, when I learn what 'skiing' is, I'll hold you to that."

"Of course, just don't let Reinhardt know I told you that. He likes to boast on and on about how the Alps are 'better' when in Germany. He's objectively wrong."

Nathan eyes lit up in momentary surprise and shock from hearing Angela's tone on the subject, letting out a long-winded whistle.

"You have a lot more to say to him about that, don't you?" He asked, somewhat cautious.

"A significant amount, yes." She shrugged. "He usually starts it."

He looked over at the table where Reinhardt, Hana, and Boone were sitting. It looked livelier than where they currently were.

"How 'bout we go over there and, with a little liquid bravado, give him a piece of your mind?" Nathan asked, already getting up from his seat. "I've grown tired of this spot."

"I don't need alcohol to do that. You might, but I don't," Angela smirked, getting up with him.

Nathan grinned. "Those are fighting words, Doc."

Things finally started to wind down at the lounge as more patrons started leaving than coming, people trickling out until it was just a few. Unfortunately, their happy hour did come to close when Reinhardt walked out carrying a passed-out Hana, everyone else following him outside.

"Cold out," Nathan noted, hugging his arms closer to himself.

He didn't hear Angela respond, looking over to see her removing her doctor's coat and draping it over Hana's sleeping form in Reinhardt's arm. Nathan saw she was wearing a slim-fitting, black turtleneck underneath that white coat. It made her fair-skinned face pop out more in the dark when she turned around to face him.

"Her quarters is just a few doors over from yours, right?" She asked, rolling the turtleneck up to shield more of her skin from the cold.

They went, following him, and mostly silent. It wouldn't take long for them to stop in front of the decorated door. It slid open, Reinhardt, Angela, and Hana going in for a minute or two, then just Reinhardt and Angela coming out with the door sliding shut behind them.

"She alright?" Nathan asked Angela.

"She'll be fine. Definitely nowhere as severe as your friend." She smiled encouragingly up at him, though, he could tell she was tired. "I'll give you an update on him in the morning."

"I appreciate it, Doc."

Her smile lengthened and she bowed her head a little to him.

"Talk more, tomorrow?" She posed.

"'Course," He replied. "If time permits."

With that, the Doctor, the Knight, and the Squire said their goodnights to the Wasters before the two groups separated, walking in opposite directions. Nathan led Boone, Veronica, Rex, and Cooper to his room, the door sliding closed when they were all in. Before the lead could even discuss sleeping arrangements, Veronica practically collapsed onto his bed. He just stood there for a while, looking at her, until he just sighed and sat down on it. Both the dogs hopped on the bed, too.

"One hell of a night," Nathan said.

"Yup." Veronica turned on her side to look up at Nathan, her head just next to his thigh. "Man, that Brigitte sure is something."

"Yeah, just beware of her father, though. He's got a short temper."

Nathan was the only one who laughed at his own joke, as the others had not seen the Head-Engineer, yet. However, he eventually died down and sat there as the room remained dark. Feeling a snout press up against him.

"Hey… Nathan?" Veronica said, sounding so meek that Nathan had to arch his entire body to face her, becoming concerned.

"What is it?"

"I'm… Really, really happy to see you, again. After such a long time."

Her punching hand reached over to Nathan's left hand and promptly grabbed him tight, feeling the texture of Pip-Boy's glove on her skin. Nathan looked down at her, the Pip-Boy faintly radiating an amber glow off her face. Seeing she was looking up at him with a quaint smile. He turned his hand upwards and grabbed her back.

"I'm happy you're here," he responded, reaffirming what he said with a brief squeeze.

"I can't wait 'till we get back home," she said, lying very still.

"… Me, too. Not sure how long that's going to take, but with all the help we have here, reckon it wouldn't be much longer. Still got quite a way ahead of us, another long road. But we got a proper caravan now. Ain't that right…? Veronica…? Veronica?"

She had fallen asleep, her eyes closed and her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Her hand still over Nathan's.

Nathan looked towards the office chair and saw Boone had also fallen asleep, long before Veronica did. Sitting there in the dark with his friends, he was quiet and motionless for several minutes, keeping his hand under Veronica's. Then, with a sigh, he rose from bed and retrieve his hand from her. The dogs looked up at him, but he quietly commanded them to stay. After pulling the blanket over Veronica and draping a spare sheet over Boone, Nathan quietly left them as he exited his room. Making his way to a spot he had found in the Watchpoint in the very early days of his time there.

Heading to the cliff edge just outside of Winston's lab, Nathan could already feel the air of the Mediterranean wafting towards him when he got closer. That spot was arguably his most favorite place to be on this base, after the bar and the shooting range. Still, there was something that cliff brought him the others couldn't. Something about just sitting there and looking at an expanse of nothing but water and air. It kept him occupied not thinking.

Which is why he was a bit dismayed to see that somebody else was already there, seeing someone on one of the rocky edges towards the sea, with their legs crossed. He normally would've turned around, growling at the thought of someone invading his spot, but just stood there and looked at who was overlooking the edge. He first saw her long, flowing black hair, then noticed that familiar clean, blue glow.

Slowly, Nathan stepped over to Satya but made enough noise to make his presence known. She still didn't notice him because she held her arm – her remaining arm – out in front of her and tried to conjure something out of the projector in her palm. For a moment, a holographic image of a double pyramid appeared, forming out of blue particulates of air, but it would flicker and eventually dissipate into dust. Satya's face scrunched up in frustration, letting out a raspy groan and opening her eyes. They snapped to Nathan, who was standing just a few feet away, watching her.

Satya opened her mouth as if to speak out, but nothing came out, quickly averting her eyes from him. Nathan didn't say anything, walking over to her other side and seeing the bandages and gauze wrapped around her left shoulder. A stump was all that was remained of her arm. It took some resolve to not look away from what he did. She continued averting eye contact.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, looking away to the Mediterranean. He could see why she would choose this spot, too.

He turned on his heel to walk away and leave her in peace, but she spoke up.

"Wait, Mr. Brin!" She said, trying to raise her stump to him, silently cursing herself. He stopped, allowing her to continue. "I-I… I didn't get a chance to say this but thank you. Thank you for saving my life."

He turned around to see her still keeping her eyes to the ground, not daring to look up at him. He wasn't going to respond with "you're welcome" or any other vapid pleasantry just to keep with norms. How could he do that to her? She was crippled for life because of him.

Sighing, he reached into his pocket to take a sip from his Vault 13 Canteen, before putting it away and stepping over to her. He sat beside her left side, his legs dangling over the edge.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, looking over his shoulder at her. Making eye contact.

"I…I…" She rasped out, having trouble formulating words. Trying to find the most appropriate ones for a conversation. "I absolutely hate this." She tossed all formalities out the window.

Nathan didn't say anything, looking back to the water.

"All the work and effort I've done will be for naught. I don't know how I can be able to function at an optimal capacity, anymore. How I can be a valuable asset to Overwatch. To Vishkar! Everything is wrong! This wasn't supposed to happen! This shouldn't have happened!"

She was becoming the loudest Nathan's ever heard her.

"By the end of this, I can only expect my tenure at Overwatch to be shortened. It's only logical; I will be a burden and waste of resources for the organization. A hindrance to the mission. And once that's over, Vishkar will most certainly make note of the degradation of my abilities. I'll be of use to no one, by then. Oh, Gods, I'll be back out on the streets. Fending for myself. No order, just uncertainty. So much uncertainty!"

Nathan listened to her entire tirade, looking down the cliff where his feet were dangling. It was a long drop where he was looking, long enough that he couldn't see the bottom at night. Just black.

"Satya," he said, right as he heard the beginnings of sobbing from her. He caught her attention, just enough to look her dead in the eyes. "You are not an asset."

Satya's breath hitched.

"Mr. Brin, I-"

"You are a human being." Nathan Brin narrowed his eyes at her, driving those words into her. "A living thing. Not some disposable, expendable piece of equipment that a corporation will replace once they find something more cost-efficient. Wasting it away, poisoning the earth. Forget about Vishkar! Fuck 'em!"

"But Mr. Brin, Vishkar is setting out to achieve bright goals for humanity. A better future for mankind!"

"Call me Nathan. And I've seen that phrase written in many different ways by companies that couldn't give a damn about humanity. Think of it, Satya, why are you concerned about Vishkar letting you go after something that wasn't your fault and was out of your control? Is it worth holding on to them for that?"

"But the hard-light technology could be instrumental in-"

"Enough about technology! You know what else was considered a technological marvel? Nuclear weapons," Nathan spat out those words with disdain. "Bombs literally designed to wipe out cities, countries even! Millions of lives just gone in the blink of an eye. Radioactive embers poisoning the world for generations to come. The capabilities to reset humanity to zero. And they were considered the pinnacle of technology, the pride of nations."

The Wastelander was breathing heavily, now, not realizing how much his rant had gotten him riled up. Satya looking at him, concerned. He sighed, again.

"I'm sorry," he muttered before standing up from the ledge, still looking down at the bottom. "I'm sorry I did this to you, even if apologies are worth a damn. I can't imagine what you're going through, only you can. Not Vishkar, not anyone else. But you still possess a lot of knowledge and the talent to utilize it. So, I'd assume you'd also have the knowledge and talent to work around having just the one arm."

Satya stared up at him, trying to take in and analyze each individual word he said. She dipped her head.

"It's been so difficult…"

"Yeah, but I don't think anyone asked for it to be easy by being here. Already made that choice."

"Then, what do you suggest I do, Nathan?"

"What you do next is your decision. Not mine."

He turned his back to the water to look at her earnestly.

"But you can at least talk to Angela. I'd figure she'd be an immense help. She's always willing."

"Dr. Ziegler has been… Exceptional in her care."

"See? That's a start."

Nathan took one more glance to the moon horizon before he walked away from the cliff.

"I'll leave you in peace. You deserve it."

"Where are you going?"

He paused. Alcohol still raddled his brain, and he wasn't interested in sleeping. He had already decided on visiting María before he was even aware that he did. He's seen her up rather-late, so, he figured he could stop by. Yeah, he knew it was almost pathetic.

"Gotta indulge in something to not feel like complete shit. It's human nature."

He walked away, trying to delay tomorrow.

AN: Here's the link for the forum I mentioned last update, where I'll be posting updates about the story and whatnot (when I feel like it). There's nothing on there, yet, but feel free to check it out(just add the ordinary FanFiction url to the beginning):

forum/PoeticPillock-s-Personal-Update-Board/221689/

Thanks for reading! PoeticPillock, out.