Chapter Text
Angela had never been on a plane before. Not that she could remember, of course. But a dropship used to carry soldiers to and from battle had to be different, right? It seemed to be the only Overwatch Official lift they could get to a place like Zürich quickly. Not only was the spontaneous trip throwing off her nerves, but as was the very presence of Ana Amari.
She had met Ana once, visiting the base on a college field trip to the Swiss Overwatch Headquarters. Some members were there for the time being, including the bulking behemoth of a man that had rescued her from being slaughtered by the same machines that gutted her parents, Reinhardt was his name. She took a picture with them after having a very fast pace and exciting conversation with him. At seventeen, Angela had the innate urge to share all of her progress and discoveries with him and his (comically short) companion. Despite not being able to understand any of her scientific babble in her native tongue, Reinhardt had still patted her on the back and told her how good she was doing.
The chatter filled event lead to a photo with a few key members, Angela kept it tucked in her primary binder even now at the solid age of twenty-two. A fact she tried her hardest to hide from Ana as they went over many of her papers and observational works in said dropship, just to ensure that they really were on the same page.
From their brief introduction five years prior, and this moment now, Angela had assumed Ana just merely wasn’t that emotive. Every now and then there was a twitch in her lip, and finally, a nod as she allowed Angela to close up her binder. “Just as I read in your thesis papers, Angela. Your work truly is on an amazing path.” Ana told her, crossing her legs as she took a more authoritative stance. “It will benefit you greatly to continue developing with Overwatch.”
Angela’s face flushed deeply. “Thank you, Captain Amari.” Angela’s accent was still quite thick, even though she had been speaking in English for most of the day. She had gotten plenty of practice, being a trauma surgeon and English being a primary language in the hospital. But that still didn’t stop her native tongue from trying to wriggle its way into every word.
Ana nodded yet again. “When we arrive at the Gibraltar base, I’ll escort you directly to the labs you’ll be working in. Unfortunately, due to your new and young status, you will have a lab partner.”
“Oh?” Angela’s back straightened at the mention. It wasn’t anything new, of course. She had another attending with her at all times in the hospital. “Do I know them?”
“Are you informed on Genetic research of the day and age, Angela?” Ana asked her curiously. At the shake of Angela’s head, she merely continued on. “Your partner will be Moira O’Deorain, shes a Geneticist with enough medical background that we’ve hired her for her to also further her scientific advancement and studies. She’s under my division of work. You might even see her in the Medical Wing if times are tough” Ana explained to her.
Angela looked down at her binder, drumming her fingers along it. “... O’Deorain? I think that name rings a bell…” She murmured, chewing her lip and zoning out, just for a small moment as her mind worked. When she looked back up, Ana’s eyes were fixated on her intently.
It was a strange moment of silence before Ana cleared her throat. “I’ll leave you in the lab to get settled while I arrange the rest of your set up. Which bunk you’ll be staying in and retrieving your ID for you.” Ana explained, going more into detail of just what they’d be doing upon arrival. And yet… Angela’s mind couldn’t stray away from the name. She had heard it, she just couldn’t remember where.
The thought kept her busy until the ship’s rather rough touchdown. She shook a little in her chair as Ana very gracefully stood. “Come, Angela. Let’s get you settled.”
--- --- ---
The halls had been amazing. Pristine linoleum floors, white in color as the walls were blue. Some hallways had messages or inscriptions of encouragement. Others had photos of soldiers who had fallen in the line of duty, particularly in which department. Angela was quick to note that the labs were quite far from the hangars, and probably far enough from the dorms that it would be a decent walk every morning just to get to work.
The laboratory section was more muted. The walls were grey, and many people in either scrubs or labcoats like her own roamed the floor. There was noise from a door down the hallway, loud enough for Ana to stop and sigh. Angela’s inquisitive gaze settled on the door until it opened. A young-looking woman with tears in her eyes and papers in her hands came running out, nearly running into Ana and Angela in the process. The captain merely sighed as she approached the door, sticking her foot to the edge before it could close completely. Angela was right beside her, looking inside curiously as she clutched her own binder. “Chased away another Lab assistant, Doctor O’Deorain?”
The moment her eyes fell on the woman in the lab, Angela’s heart seemed to skip a beat.
Tall, prominent in her tailor labcoat, made especially long for her exceedingly tall frame. She was one of the most impressive and distinguished scientists Angela had ever seen. The sharp glare of an eye with her head turned to the side really made Angela freeze. It was almost like the woman was boring into her very soul.
“She mixed up my solutions and nearly caused a meltdown in my lab, Captain Amari.” the woman, Moira O’Deorain had responded firmly. She turned her full body attention to the pair who had entered her space, and cocked an eyebrow up, staring directly at Angela with such an intense gaze. It made her shrink in her own body. “Can you see into the future now too, bringing me another assistant already?”
Before Angela could find the words to defend herself, Ana took an extra step forward. “This is Angela Ziegler. She’s going to be working along side you on her own projects. Do try not to send her crying like you did that poor girl.”
Doctor O’Deorain made a noise as if she scoffed, turning away and back to her table. “So long as she keeps her hands to herself.”
Ana sighed but gave Angela a small, assuring glance. “Shes always bitter. You’ll get used to it. Settle yourself in and I’ll be back in a bit.”
Just like that, Ana was gone and the lab door closed, leaving Angela alone with her new partner. She clutched tighter at her binder before moving around, just to see what her new ‘lab partner’ was fumbling with, and also to catch her attention. “Doctor O’Deorain? It’s a pleasure to meet you” Angela tried to be kind, even offering her hand out. She merely glanced over, looking up at Angela’s hand, then her face, before turning away.
“Keep to yourself. Do not touch anything without permission, and do not bring your sunshine and enthusiasm. Young ones like you really enjoy bringing a grating positivity in the labs.” Doctor O’Deorain said stiffly, arranging her set as properly as she seemed fit, before pulling her full attention to Angela. “You look like an absolute infant. Are you still in Medical School, Zeegler?”
“It’s… It's Ziegler.” Angela softly corrected, pulling her hand back slowly to hold onto her binder closer to her chest. She could feel her heart hammering with each word, and she wasn’t sure if it was fear or upset that was causing it. “And, no. I’m a trauma surgeon. I was actually the head of my department…”
Another quick size up and Doctor O’Deorain seemed absolutely unimpressed. “Keep your belongings over there. There’s an unused table you can take. Now kindly, stay out of my way.” Picking up a few papers, she moved away from the current table they were at, moving back to a space that looked like an office desk... With the solid addition of a microscope. Now that Angela had a moment to observe the whole laboratory, she already felt homesick… It was dim and a disaster, with papers and vials scattered in places she wouldn't think of. She had merely hoped it was partially in fault to the lab assistant Moira had chased out only a short while ago.
Keeping to herself just as Doctor O’Deorain wanted, Angela moved to the table she was told was a spare. There was in fact no papers or important pieces of equipment, so she set to work arranging herself. As well as her binder, Angela did have a laptop satchel with her. She set it up first and foremost, putting the binder to the side. Just like her old table in the research lab. Once she was satisfied with it all, she decided to take another glance around the lab. Angela was always one for learning new things about her new colleagues. And perhaps if she looked long enough she’d be able to tell just what about Moira O’Deorain jogged her memory. There were two whiteboards in the room, filled with scrawls in purple marker.
The notes were based on genetic development and regeneration of cells, a very basic conceptualization. It was fascinating, to say the least, and after a little while, she was staring at the board, taking in the information and picking up the marker herself. She made small annotations, in German, along the sides. She muttered to herself the information she was intaking, and she hardly noticed the presence behind her. Just until it spoke.
“Comments are not worth anything if they are not in a common language.”
Angela jumped, dropping the marker as she turned. The older scientist had snuck up on her damn near like a cat. “I-I’m… I’m sorry” Angela said, almost a little too quietly. “I was fascinated I- I just…”
“Keep your hands to yourself” She stated bluntly, bending down to pick up the maker Angela had dropped in her fright. “And off of my whiteboards.”
Nothing else was said after Doctor O’Deorain left from behind her. Angela watched her walk away with doe eyes and a shake in her hands. Something bubbled up, and she couldn’t quite help herself. “Why do you have to be so rude?” Angela asked boldly in her mother tongue.
Doctor O’Deorain turned to her, a slightly irritated note to her face, indicated by the way her eyebrows sat. “Care to repeat that in English, Doctor? Or are you going to take this wise second opportunity to keep your mouth shut.” The words were so rough, angry-sounding. Angela almost wished she did challenge her in English first.
Despite the courage she had for her initial statement, she clammed up immediately after, taking a step away from Doctor O’Deorain. Her submission elicited a very clear reaction from Moira. “Good, you’re not as stupid as your Ditzy Blonde exterior makes you appear,” She said before sitting back at her desk, glossing over her papers once more and all ignoring Angela’s existence in her lab.
Frightened and stiff from the slight confrontation, Angela walked back to her ‘designated’ table, booting her computer up to get it warm for later. Her hands shook as she tried typing up her password, she’d never found someone so disgruntling in her short life. Never someone so against the presence of another human being. But at least the notes on the whiteboards did jog some form of memory and not good ones.
--- --- ---
It took Ana nearly two hours to return to the lab. In that time, Doctor O’Deorain didn’t move from her desk once, and Angela was nearly fed up with her position, and without much ‘acquainting’ going on, she felt more like a prisoner with a warden.
Angela was gifted her official Overwatch ID, her picture the same used from the hospital ID she bore right along with it on a clip. It not only gave her access to her living space, but also to Moira’s lab. To Angela’s near-perfect delight, her bunk was a single room, the second bed that should have been there was exchanged for an extra desk for Angela’s studies she wished to take with her and observe in her own room. Ana stood by the doorway as Angela found every piece of her luggage together and at the foot of the small twin bed. The room was blank, but not for long as Angela was already trying to piece where she’d display each of her awards and diplomas.
“It isn’t much,” Ana started off simply. “Definitely nothing compared to a cozy home, but hopefully better than a college dorm room.”
Angela turned to her with a fond smile. “Danke, Captain. It’s perfect.”
A soft smile came from Ana in return. “That’s good. I’m glad you like it. If there is anything you need Angela, don’t be afraid to come to me.” She said, waving her off and leaving the doorway.
Once Ana left her to her own devices and the door slid shut, she set her desk up first, pulling the picture from her binder and setting it on the keyboard of her laptop with promises of a frame later. She took a few other important pieces out of her bags, like her scrubs and her labcoats before eventually just flopping on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Can you see me from there?” Angela seemed to ask to no one in particular. “Can you see where I am? What I’m going to do? I’m going to change the world…! All I need to do is research and get stronger. I’ll make you both proud here.” The smile on her face was wide, despite the day’s struggle with Doctor O’Deorain. Nothing could kill the true deep joy Angela felt.
No, Overwatch’s military practices didn’t suit her ideals. But the way Ana had presented it… No one would end up like her parents did ever again, should her contributions actually provide useful to them. That was all the encouragement Angela needed.
Not even Moira O’Deorain could ruin her determination for that.