#hello joel

It had been months since Genji had intruded upon Hanzo’s yearly remembrance of his brother’s death. Supposed death. He found it unbelievable that even after the devastation Genji had survived. More so that his little brother wanted a murder back into that half life of technology. Being offered a chance to reenter the world to help others had appeal. It would be a different experience.

Hanzo didn’t know how he had gathered the courage to come to these rocky shores. He slipped in through a degradation in the surrounding wall. For a military complex the security was weak. But what else could be expected from abandoned buildings. Hearing the scuff of boots on stone, the archer leaned out from his cover to see if he had been discovered. Hiding among the cliff face would not engender any trust, but Hanzo had not wanted to confront them directly without knowing who he was dealing with. 

A flare of a cigar exposed a bearded face below a broad brimmed hat. The shadows were too great to make out any detail. The man glanced in Hanzo’s direction. Quickly he ducked back behind his cover. Below he could hear a booming voice ask, “Athena, any strangers on your sensors?” The computer was impossible for him to make out from this distance. How had this man differentiated him from all the other nighttime shadows?

Questions would come last. Three shots ricochetted in the stones beside him. Lightning aiding his reflexes, Hanzo drew an arrow and fired into the man’s left arm. Through the cloth wrap. Strangely there was no cry of pain. Only a grunt of surprise. In the momentary distraction, the archer notched another arrow and leapt down. Nearly the second he landed, arrow aimed eight inches from the gunslinger’s forehead, the revolver leveled between his eyes. Did some supernatural being aid this man’s sight and reflexes?

Hanzo could only compare such movement to the dragon within him. “Lower your weapon. I will not give you another warning.” He kept his voice well controlled. Though the gunshots had announced his presence to the base, they did not need to know the extent of the invasion.

Under the brim of the tattered leather hat, the light of the cigar glowed bright. Just long enough to catch fascination within the hard eyes. “Ain’t moving, partner. If you mean no harm, step back an inch and let me tell the others you’re here. Don’t want ‘em coming out guns a blazing, do ya?” The gunman’s dark whisper suggested he held all the cards in this situation.

Hanzo frowned. Such confidence even at a disadvantage. It was a surprise courtesy. Yet he would not be the first one to yield.

The gunslinger gave an abbreviated sigh. Annoyance clearly resonated within those eyes. “Hey, Athena!” The man called to the computer once again. “Let them know there is an archer on the roof.”

This time a clear, gentle female voice answered from within the metal building. “Affirmative.”

Then they waited. The silence stretched to the point that Hanzo feared once it snapped, he or the gunman would fire. Oddly though the man’s eyes never held any anger at the situation. Just a constant curiosity. The same as Hanzo. How had this man matched his reactions?

“I am here.” A soft male voice interrupted the moment. Anything else might have triggered their weapons. Genji. Surprisingly subtle. ”I didn’t think you’d come.”

”This idiot shot at me.”

”You did not come by way of the main entrance.” The cyborg did not let the conversation continue. Hanzo knew that this outcome was to be expected by not using the proper methods of communication. It did nothing to ease Hanzo’s self righteous frustration. Armored hands gently pushed the weapons towards the floor. The elder Shimada brother allowed it, seeing that the gunman also silently agreed to the truce.

An ear piercing screech of ripping metal startled the two ninjas. Hanzo watched fascinated as the gunslinger used unnatural strength to yank the arrow from the metal wall. When he started to fiddle with the arrow itself, Hanzo noted that the man had a cyborg prosthetic.

“Jesse, this is my brother, Hanzo.” So the man with unearthly reflexes had a name. “Hanzo, this is Jesse McCree, a good friend of mine.” Genji remained between them. Obviously concerned about another flare up of tempers. He needn’t worry. Hanzo shouldered his bow. Taking the first step in trusting his younger brother’s friend.

“So this is the man that tried to kill you. Sorry if I don’t shake your hand.” McCree did not relent in his study of the archer. Even as he holstered his revolver. A low whistle caught Hanzo’s attention. This time the gunslinger was focused on the arrow. “Pretty handy with that bow.”

The praise was unexpected. Particularly from an enemy. Hanzo arched an eyebrow and shoved his arrow into the quiver, tilting his head to Genji. Making sure to speak English for the gunslinger’s benefit, Hanzo scoffed. “This is the likes of which you expect me to join?”

“Sorry, I’m late.” A new woman appeared, threatening to destabilize the fragile truce. “Winston said Genji would take point. Shall we get going? Everyone is waiting to meet your brother, Genji.” The Brit was too enthusiastic for the dour mood. Obviously the cyborg had informed his friends of Hanzo’s possible arrival. He shouldn’t feel as annoyed as he did.

Following his younger brother, and trying to contain his concerns about putting his back to the dangerous gunslinger, Hanzo heard a rather lighthearted comment from McCree. “Hey, Hanzo, you did know that this arm was metal, right?” Was the American joking?

Everyone turned. Hanzo scowled at the extended prothesis with a carbon fiber and steel alloy arrow shot cleanly through the circuits and metal sheathing. He had not known at the time of aiming. But one thing was certain, “It would not have made a difference.” He kept his gaze level and voice even, refusing to show any admiration for the man’s abilities.

“What?” McCree’s startled question initiated Hanzo steps towards the main building. Apparently he had more of these strange people to meet. “Come on now, you did know…. Right? Genji?” He caught a glimpse of his brother shrugging, though the cyborg ninja did chuckle at McCree’s distress. Hanzo refused to answer. Perhaps one day he would reveal the truth. For now it suited him for the gunslinger to wonder.

Getting approval from the MEKA to join the Recall effort as posted by a renegade call had taken some doing. Hana did not have the complete freedom she had had as a pro-gamer. Then she could visit whatever cities she wished to see her fans or take part in competitions. That life had been fun. But it wasn’t going to last. Not with her home being threatened. 

Everyone had claimed the Omnic Crisis was over. Well apparently they had never been to Korea. 

But the pilots did have some freedoms. So long as her CO could get in touch with her at all times. And that she respond immediately when called. Her life as a MEKA pilot wasn’t so bad. The training had been the worst part. The routine. The orders. The classes. Hana actually enjoyed training with her mech. It was a highly advance gaming system. It was just the rest of it that made it so frustrating.

She voiced her opinions to her commanding officers in regards to the Recall video. Explained how since Overwatch was the organization that had put down the Omnic uprising in the first place that they could help do it again. And Hana wanted to be part of it. 

So here she was. Part of an unofficial offer of the Korean government to find stability in this crumbling world.

But specifically Hana was at the practice range because Athena promised to help her with her aim. The training dummies were very useful. Reassembling after being destroyed. Her pistol fired away rapidly. The previous shot helping her get the next.

The hiss of the door announced the arrival of another. Hana stopped immediately. Regulations on the target range required all weapons down to avoid accidents. Her training had drilled that into her head. When she saw the newcomer she almost didn’t believe her eyes. A tall scruffy man in a faded red wrap and a tattered leather hat. It was as if a old time cowboy had stepped out of a Western. It was so bizarre. 

“Oh. Sorry. Not used to people being here this early in the morning.” Even his country drawl was from the movies. Was this guy for real? He even tipped his hat with the apology. 

Hana shrugged. Being interrupted wasn’t new. Not after training with a bunch of other gamers turned mech pilots. “Almost done.” The man nodded and took a seat in the protected viewing area. He lit up a thick cigar and settled back. An audience was also nothing new. But this time if felt strange. The complete stranger watching her train felt more like one of her instructors glaring at her for improper posture or grip. The cowboy didn’t say anything. He didn’t have any particular expression on his face. Hana just couldn’t get that feeling out of her head. 

She finished up the last few rounds set out. Overall she was pleased with her performance. Hana was better with her mech than with the pistol, but her instructors always said that when her mech was disabled that she needed to defend herself in other ways. At least the pistol felt like many of the gun shaped controllers on the market. Putting everything away, Hana almost forgot about her audience until the cowboy walked up to her. The boots echoing loudly on the floor and a strange jingle accompanying them. 

“D.Va, tell me one thing: Where’d you learn to shoot like that?” 

That got her by surprise. The man knew who she was. Well it shouldn’t have surprised her. She had made a name for herself with gaming and then acting. But the cowboy did not seem like the kind of guy who cared much about either. “16-bit Hero.”

The scruffy cowboy scratched at the beard and blew out a long stream of smoke. He nodded as if he finally placed the reference. “If you wanna shoot better, treat each bullet like your last.”

“Didn’t ask you.”

“Didn’t need to.” The cowboy chuckled and used a metal hand to remove the cigar. He stepped forward, leading with his right hand. “Name’s McCree.” After that the man became another in a long line of instructors. This one though was actually useful. They trained together quite frequently after that. And Hana had to admit, her aim got better.

Chapters: 11/? Summary:

McCree, Hanzo and Genji go undercover to investigate a Talon/Deadlock weapons deal. The Overwatch agents meet Joel, an alias McCree has strong feelings about. They all end up having to worry about what will return when Talon is finished with the captured cowboy.

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Three Blackwatch operatives dead and two severely injured. All caused by this one cocky, black leather cowboy and his six-shooter. Reyes scowled over his shotguns at the Deadlock kid caught in a corner attempting to reload his revolver. Thin but muscular. All the makings of a Deadlock Rebel. Though the broad brimmed hat ruined the biker image.

If Reyes had not seen his agents go down himself, he would not have believed it possible. This kid had stepped out of a miner’s cave, paused for a breath and rapidly fired six shots into the Blackwatch team below. If Reyes had not had the sheer luck to see the kid first and duck out of the way, he might have been included in the list of injured or dead. Then the chase was on.

The enhanced soldier made quick work of the chase and caught the kid in the corner of a diner. The revolver was empty and the kid had a clip of bullets ready to reload. Reyes had got to him first. Shotguns to the kid’s head. “Didn’t expect you to almost bring down my entire team.”

The kid grinned, apparently disregarding the trouble he had put himself in. He was crouched and waiting for a moment to spring into action. Self assured enough despite the shotgun barrels six inches from his face. “I’m just full of surprises. So, how are we going to do this?” his eyes flickered from the shotguns to Reyes’s face, trying to judge the best course of action.

Reyes was furious and it showed. He scowled down at the kid. “That depends on you. Conscious or unconscious, you’re coming with me.” He caught the glance towards the door. “They aren’t coming. They’re either dead, in handcuffs or long gone. Not really the type of crowd to rescue the idiots who got captured, are they.”

“Don’t give a man many options, do you.” The kid weighed the reload canister against the two fully loaded shotguns. His empty revolver did not seem like much of a comparison.

“Never have. Now, how cooperative are you going to be?”

“Hell, what makes you think I’ll be cooperative?”

Reyes saw the desperate move coming. The kid jerked swiftly to try and reload. Reyes was quicker, the barrel of his shotgun rammed into the kid’s throat. With the kid stunned and gasping for breath, Reyes kicked the revolver out of the boy’s hand. His own backup had the handcuffs on the kid before the Deadlock sharpshooter caught his breath. “Keep this one separate,” Reyes told the agent who hauled the kid off with the others. “He and I need to talk.”

That’s how they ended up in a police interrogation room. Just a table, two chairs and the ugly, tattered cowboy hat between them.

Apologies to readers of “Hello, Joel” and Criminal Bonds. The editing process has taken a toll. As a result I have spent more time with Lost My Heart to the Sea. And just wrote the outline for a new piece... 

That’s what three? new stories that I want to share.... But I promise that I will focus on these first three before I publish more than snippets for the others.

Snippets you may see will be for a Dystopian McHanzo story called Random Scrap. A supernatural epic for McHanzo and Reaper76 called The Eternal Song: The Dragon, The Wolf, The Phoenix and The Lich (wild guess as to who is who). And finally and most recent captor of my time is an Alternate Timeline where Blackwatch McCree is captured by the Shimada Clan and how things go from there called The Scion and the Rebel.