Tree branches were blown about as the a helicopter spun around for a landing. It touched the ground in a small clearing between thick woods and an abandon factory. Boots hit the ground as the six men and women of Overwatch jumped out, guns drawn and sweeping the area.

"Clear front," Jack called.

"Clear right," Ana said.

"Clear left," Zarya said.

"Well, I have to say, this is not the kind of reception I was expecting," Winston said. He was the only one to casually step out of the helicopter.

"At least Talon picked a pretty spot," Mei said. "I always found Germany's Black Forest hauntingly beautiful."

"I think it's scary," Fareeha said. "They were able to set up shop in Germany, nearly in Switzerland. We're only a dozen kilometers from Zurich; that's Angela's home town!"

"Talon has to be good at hiding in plain sight," Jack said, pointing at the building ahead of them. "Just look at it. It looks like an old, rundown factory."

"Get behind me, I shall cover our entrance," Zarya said, moving to point.

"Take Mei with you," Jack said. "And try not to lock any lips, okay?"

"S-sir!"

"Ignore Jack, sweetheart, he's giving you a hard time," Ana said.

"Thank you, ma'am."

The building was indeed made from a run-down, abandoned factory. Zarya led the way to the front door, and gave it a heavy kick. The rusted hinges gave way, groaning their protests. Winston was next, sweeping the room with his Tesla cannon.

"Nothing," he said.

"Widowmaker said there was an entrance to the facility somewhere," Mei said.

"Think this is it?" Zarya said, pointing to a cabinet. It hung open by the barest inch; she pulled it open, revealing a hidden doorway.

"Sure looks like it," Jack said. "Let me run point."

"I'll make sure you don't hurt yourself," Ana said.

The group moved into the doorway. Suddenly, the building wasn't a rundown factory, but rather a sophisticated base. Cubicles lined some of the walls, with hallways leading to window-lined laboratories.

Everything in the facility was destroyed. Laboratory equipment was smashed, with glass scattered everywhere. Odd papers littered the ground, and destroyed computers were thrown about.

"Sure is smoky in here," Mei coughed.

Dozens of metal barrels were placed throughout the facility. All were smoldering, spewing smoke and soot into the air.

"Looks like someone left in a hurry," Fareeha said, walking among the destroyed chaos that was scattered about the facility.

"Smashed computers, burned papers, this is a textbook slash-and-burn op," Jack said. "Talon is trying to cover their tracks."

"So…Widowmaker is telling the truth then?" Mei asked.

"She can't be," Fareeha growled. "This is just a play."

"I don't think it is. Look at the computers," Winston said. He set his cannon down and shifted through the wreckage. "They pried the hard drives apart, destroyed the platters, broke the memory chips. They don't want any data to fall into our hands."

"Shit, looks like she wasn't blowing smoke up our ass," Jack said.

"Jack, you cannot be serious," Ana said.

"I'm Strike Commander; I have to be objective," he said. "Look at this. Talon took everything they had, and completely trashed it, all to keep us from getting it. And this is only one base; Widowmaker gave us thirteen locations. Even if Talon destroyed all this data and left nothing for us, this is a huge setback. That alone is worth the price of coming over."

"So you will forgive her, just like that?"

"I never said forgive," Jack said. "I said she wants to come over to our side."

"Bullshit she does," Fareeha said. "This is a play to get close to us."

"A wise man once said, 'trust, but verify,'" Jack said. "I sure as hell don't trust her, but this is all the verification we need."

"All it takes is to disrupt Talon's operations, and all is forgiven?" Zarya asked.

"Messing their shit up is a start, but it's not all," Jack said. He walked over to a still smoldering barrel. "Back during America's…ill-advised War on Drugs, the narcos in the cartels were always on the run from police. Sure, they had their share of informants in the police to give them a head's up when a bust was heading their way, but there was a saying: 'to make a clean getaway, the naros had to be lucky every single damn time.'"

He kicked the barrel over, spilling ash over the ground. With his boots, he rummaged around and pulled out pages and pages of only slightly-burnt papers.

"'But to the police who hunted them, they only had to get lucky once.'"

"Talon really did leave in a hurry," Winston said, ambling over. "They torched everything, and didn't bother to verify everything was properly destroyed."

He leafed through the papers. All the papers were burned, but many were still wholly intact and legible. Some were simply singed.

"Anything we can use?" Jack asked.

"This is way too early to tell," Winston said. "There have to be almost a hundred pages that survived the fires."

"And that's just from one barrel," Mei said. "There have to be dozens here."

"A hundred pages per barrel, with over a dozen barrels, from thirteen bases," Jack said. "I'd have to say we got a pretty good change to find something worthwhile in this."

"Alright, you made your point," Ana sighed.

"Mom, you can't be serious."

"Jack said it best: trust, but verify. It is hard to argue with thousands of pages of documents we could use against Talon. She truly wants to give up on Talon and come to the good side."

Ana sighed

"I don't like this any more than you do, Fareeha. But at least Lena will be over the moon."

The door to my 'cell' opened, and Lena pranced in. I have never seen her so happy.

"Guess what, love!"

"I can get out of this damn cell?"

"Cell? Come on, this is a hospital room."

"One which I cannot leave."

"Look love, you want the news or not?"

"Oui," I sighed. "Although I would like some real clothes. These hospital gowns do nothing for my figure."

"Ha! Don't worry, you'll get real clothes," Lena said. "You can even get a real room, and a real job if you want it."

"Pardon?"

"Jack just sent the word: the first base they raided was empty, but they found a boat load of intel they could use against Talon. They think the other bases are going to be just as helpful."

My breath caught in my throat. Talon's conditioning was screaming at me, but I was getting better at ignoring it. I was ignoring it because I had Lena in front of me.

"You mean…?"

"Yup," she smiled. "They don't think you're a spy."

"So…so that means…?"

Lena took my hands.

"I've been wanting this for years," she breathed. All of our other kisses were nothing like this one. There was no rush, no hesitation, just us.

Although, I did miss the bullets.

"Welcome to Overwatch, love."

Shots rang out as Talon operatives filled the air with lead.

"Gotta try harder than that!" Tracer laughed, popping into and out of existence as she gracefully dodged the shots.

Talon's agents focused their fire, forcing her to cover.

"Hey, boss man, that's your queue."

Talon soldiers were cut down by Soldier:76's gunfire. Rocket blasts rained from the sky as Pharah floated on her jet packs, Mercy hovering behind her.

"How we doing?" Soldier:76 said, sliding into cover by Tracer.

Ariel superiority has been achieved, Pharah said on the radio.

Such a shame, Mercy sighed. I want to use my ultimate, but no one has died yet...

And you called me the scary one, Widowmaker sighed.

You are plenty scary, Ana said. A shot echoed, and a Talon mercenary fell. When you are focused. My nanoboost is ready; who needs a shot?

"Let's get ready for a push," Soldier:76 said. "Form up on me."

Oh, I see, Widowmaker said. Whenever grand-mère shoots someone, everyone say 'merci.' But when I shoot someone, all anyone says is 'Widowmaker, non! Widowmaker, what are you doing? Widowmaker, we needed that man alive!'

"We did need that Talon soldier alive," Soldier:76 growled.

Plaire, he would not have been taken alive. He was pulling the pin on a grenade; Talon conditions their soldiers well.

"Just as well as you?"

Talon soldiers do not have a beautiful woman to draw them away. I did you all a favor by killing that man.

Solder:76 gave Tracer a hard look.

"S-she's gettin' better," she stammered. "I swear."

"If this is 'better,' I don't want to know what was 'worse.'"

You know I can still hear you, oui?

"That's the point, Widow. Is everyone in position?"

Affirmative, Pharah said. Barrage is ready. Say the word, and I'll keep their heads down.

"Ana, boost me once Pharah pops her barrage. Pharah, you force them to cover, and I'll flush 'em out. Tracer, do what you do best: harass."

"Ten steps ahead of ya!"

"Widow, if there are any more grenades that are about to be pulled—"

I shall take them out.

"—Or you could tell me about it."

Spoilsport.

"Everyone ready?"

Getting into position, Pharah said. Give me a few.

Right beside you, Mercy said.

Tracer looked behind her, to the tower where Widow was stationed. She changed the frequency her radio was on, switching to Widow's private radio channel.

"How you like bein' on our side, love?" She asked.

I do not care about 'sides,' Widow said. But I do like being with you, for once. You are easier to kiss now.

"Not as fun, though."

We can make it fun, ma chérie.

"Now you're just usin' that scope to check me out, aren't you?"

Mmmm…

In position, Pharah said. Justice incoming!

"Move!" Soldier yelled.

Tracer vaulted from cover as everyone jumped into action. Amélie had said they could be together in another life.

And she was liking this life.