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Watchpoint Gibraltar, the new base for Overwatch. Just by the sea, tech as far as the eye can see and sufficient areas to train upcoming recruits. The whole entire idea of this was also for communication across the globe, being able to contact agents from across the world. Sombra found herself talking to Project Echo. Or Echo. Aurora?
It was a complicated mess to even try and understand. But behind Echo, or more like within Echo was information and memories from Dr. Mina Liao. Of course Talon didn’t even need to assign her to try and do this. Just the challenge of trying to get past the firewalls set up.
But hacking into a sentient omnic based off of it’s dead creator wasn’t the only insane part. What was more crazy is that Echo just let her.
“Any luck getting past my fourth firewall yet?”
I guess she didn’t feel the code going into her.
“Already done, your fifth’s tricky though.”
It felt so close, but she would just get errors and constant access denied.
“Do you want a hint?”
Was she sassing her? Sombra scoffs at her.
“Don’t you dare.”
This damn omnic…
“Why are you letting me hack you again?”
“Oh well I get even more information from you than me.”
“Like what?”
“Would you like me to tell you Olivia?”
Sombra scoffs again.
“Everyone knows that, Zarya must have told you.”
“Well then how about you look at Cole’s search history.”
Sombra was stunned momentarily, but then resumed her hacking.
“How would you know that?” Confusion filled the air.
“Your cybernetic grafts within you speak of everything, was I not supposed to say that?”
“Well I guess you can, but I’ll reprogram that part and make it classified.”
“But couldn’t you remove it instead, I believe that would be much more efficient.”
“No, I have no idea if I’d break you.” Sombra mentioned casually.
Echo stared at her.
“Interesting…”
“What is it?”
The firewall was tricky, it’s like it was just eating whatever code she tossed at it.
“Why would you not want to break me? Talon and Overwatch are enemies, are they not?”
I mean I guess…
I’m here not for Talon, just refining my skill.”
“Oh, then should I let you focus.”
“Whatever works for you.”
The next few hours were excruciating. The constant return of access denied. With each failure the temptation of asking for that hint got greater and greater.
Que maravilla, que código tan estupido, todo esto es estupido,” The frustration in her voice was rampant.
“I’m still willing to give you that hint if you wish.”
“I don’t want your stupid hints…”
“Well studies show that it is recommended for people who code to spend time or even look outside for a small amount of time.”
“Are you suggesting we go out?” She said with confusion.
“That is exactly what I’m suggesting.”
Huh, a robot inviting her to go out…, she really has seen it all.
“Alright munequita, I’ll go with you.” Sombra couldn’t help but chuckle.
They walk out the door and see the ocean, they walk up some stairs that look over a rock formation and the sea. It was already night time. No wonder Sombra felt tired. She sat down to overlook the ocean, entranced in how the clear blue water reflected the black cloudy sky. It was comforting…
“Would you like to see something I was programmed to do?”
“What are you about to do?” Sombra questioned.
“As a friend of mine would say, watch and learn.”
You could see Echo start to shoot into the night sky. But it wasn’t the usual shots she would shoot into enemies. Not the sticky bombs that would attach to her foes, not even the laser that would eviscerate any in her path. Yet eventually the shots would slowly start to stay in the air, as more of these odd shots filled the sky, the more the sea reflected the shots. Eventually…
“Hijue puta…” Sombra said in astonishment.
“Dr. Mina Liao made this function for somebody I know, although I never figured out what it was for.”
Sombra eventually remembered Cassidy’s search history.
“You know the cowboy right?”
“Yes, Cole Cassidy was one of the first to know about me, he even freed me from the deadlock gang.”
“Well…”
How the hell do you even touch on this topic to a robot. Wait a moment. Sombra connected with Echo again. Eventually she understood.
“Oh, you humans often engage in romance and relationships to better yourselves correct?”
“You got it muneca.”
“So Cole Cassidy had a romantic interest in my creator?”
“Yup…”
“Intriguing…”
The two looked at the sight again, the orb in the night sky painting it with new stars was still an entrancing sight.
“So this would be the equivalent to what humans call asking one out?”
“I guess…”
“May… I look through your memories again, I’d prefer to understand you.”
“Shadows aren’t meant to be understood muneca, you might not like what you see…” Sombra said solemnly.
Echo silently started to connect herself with Sombra’s cybernetic graphs. Eventually it was like Sombra was looking and living through Echo’s eyes. The death of the one who created you, two years of silence and loneliness, the eternity of having almost nobody understand you, hell, misunderstand you, everything felt overwhelming.
“Why did you show me that?”
“With my knowledge I believe many people share similar suffering, but to let that suffering define you is something my creator wouldn’t want me to do. How I exist, adapt, grow, and learn is something Dr. Mina Liao gave to me before she was lost. To define myself would be a true termination of project Echo.”
Olivia sighed.
“Are you sure you want to see what I’ve done, and why I hide?”
“Yes, but I will stop my scan once you want me to.”
Olivia nodded as she let Echo connect deeper with her.
Echo awoke in devastation. It was the omnic crisis. It had destroyed everything. She could feel the tears stream down her face as she saw her parents lost to the crisis. She saw how she had to get by with her natural talent and skill, seeing others who didn’t have either lost, and forgotten… She saw how her life changed once she arrived in other associations, in Talon, in Los Muertos, doing good, but also taking lives. Seeing what gateways had opened because of the path she chose. The complicated friendships and acquaintances she had gained.
“How…”
“I know, I’m not really a good-”
“Overwhelming.”
“What?”
That was new.
“No wonder you continue to contact the people who gave you opportunities.”
Olivia could only blankly look at Echo.
“You know, you could join Overwatch.”
“Even after everything that I have done?”
“Well it’s how you make up for your mistakes rather than lingering on the past.”
Olvia smiled which soon changed to a frown.
“I wish I could, but I have a friend in Talon, I can’t leave him with Moira and the others in general.”
“Then the invitation will always be open to you and your friend!”
Olivia smiled. Eventually with her understanding of Echo…
“Could I try getting past that firewall one more time?”
“Go ahead.”
Without another moment passing, entrance was easy, but then a 6th firewall appeared.
“You’re a labyrinth of firewalls aren’t you muneca?”
“Glad you finally figured it out!” Echo smiled.
“So how long would it take me to bypass them all at once.”
“Well with your skills only time would tell.”
As Olivia would try and continue to hack Echo, she decided to do something else.
“Hey Echo.”
“Yes?”
“Could we try that connecting thing again?”
“Really, are you sure?”
“Guess somebody has to know me”
As they connected this time Olivia pressed her head against Echo’s, knowing that this is where the fun began.