My first time creative writing, I never share anything I write so I thought why not. Its nothing amazing just a lil project that I wanted to do and share. Enjoy.
Let me take you back to the beginning. Back before I was turned into this monster, even before the Omnic crisis. I was born into a veryā¦interestingā¦family. My PÄpÄā¦ who I donāt call PÄpÄ anymore so I will call him by his name, which is Wairua Ariki. He was a renowned micro biologist and chemist in New Zealand, though his methods were seen as violent and brutal.Ā
My Whaea, Anahera Ariki, was a marine biologist and trained mercenary that fell in love with my pÄpÄās violent escapadesā¦so I was the result. Everything was surprisingly normal when I was a toddler, Wairua became a lab assistant and my Whaea joined the marines to āhave a normal lifeā. That didn't last long. At 8 years old, that's when the world felt the tremors of the Omnic crisis. We managed to hide, and stay safe. I guess my parents could show their true colours when it all came to fruition.
Afterwards, they were approached by the Deep sea raiders, giving them a chance to do what theyāve always been good atā¦killing, making weapons, hurting others. But they were given a reason this time, āto protect New Zealand, to protect Samoa and other neighboring islands.ā Of course they were going to take that offer. I was just the helpless passenger that was dragged along for the ride. I remained with Wairua of course, my Whaea was the one to put her foot down, wanting to āprotectā her whakapapa ensuring her bloodline survives. Who even thinks like that, you might askā¦wellā¦my Whaea definitely thought like that. She scared even the toughest soldiers. No one wanted to go against her, she would call anyone beneath her a āKunekuneā. Young me didnāt quite know what it meant, but baby me would always laugh at it, I think she enjoyed that I would laugh along.
Eventually, her strength and luck would run out. One mission that was a search and rescue, there wereā¦complicationsā¦causing only two members to return. My Whaea wasnāt so fortunate. This is where my pain begins, not from losing my Whaea, but from my asshole for a father to grieve in the only way he couldā¦putting all his effort into creating his āultimate biological weaponā. After three days of shutting himself away, he finally made use of me I guess.
He began his experiments. āTell me, Aroha, What wins wars?ā He would always ask me this every morning. Always expecting the same answer. If I didnāt answer him, it would end up being my fault the needle went in wrong or my fault when I would get an open wound.Ā
āWeaponsā¦ā I would always try to answer timidly. If I could even get it out. There wouldnāt be much interaction during the procedures, constant poking and prodding eventually ending me in a giant test tube attached to machines.Ā
Anytime I would protest or cry, he would use the same line. āYou would disrespect me like this? Be a terrible daughter to your Whaea? Do you want her death to be in vain?ā These hurtful guilt ridden threats would break me down. I couldnāt fight back.
On my 13th birthday, Wairua made a breakthrough, he destroyed my blood in my body and pumped me full of nanomites that are keeping me alive, while also having other uses, according to Wairua. Though not much showed of it. This caused him to truly break down. Ending up destroying half of his lab. He turned his disappointment to me. "I am going to kill you! You useless daughter! A mistake even as my test subject! A failure!ā
That was his biggest mistake, in his rage he set me free from my prison. I was able to escape, being able to stowaway on one of the vessels set for a mission inland.
Getting to sneak away, I managed to scrounge around, live on the streets and tinker with my failing new body. Though being 13, I didnāt have much luck with food or shelter. Until I was discovered.
āChild, are you okay?ā Two very casual looking Omnics show concern, my arm and legs at this stage looking beyond rotten, making me feel woozy and awful. Before I could respond I passed out. Waking up, I was on a comfortable bed, the room was tattered and there was a strong smell of metal, though I was startled by somethingā¦unusualā¦āAH!ā I scream.Ā
My armā¦my legsā¦they were goneā¦replaced. Alerted to my screams were the two Omnics and a tall lanky androgynous human with Omnic parts. This confused me. Causing me to freak out and cry. The first thing that I try to do is runā¦but my body fails and falls like a heavy weight beneath meā¦the room begins to spin.
Behind me a soft gentle voice pierces through my loud brain, āchild be careful are you okay? Are you hurt?ā it was coming from one of the Omnics I remember seeing before passing out. The other one comes closer crouching down beside me āplease let us help youā¦āĀ
Before he can finish the human with Omnic attachments butts in. "Yeah kid, ya almost died, your body was goinā into shock if I didnāt help ya.ā I am still on alert, avoiding eye contact. The human speaks again. "Names Leon, born and bred field medic and ex-Phreak.ā They extend their hand out towards meā¦I cower more.
āIt's okay, we arenāt here to hurt you, loveā the crouched Omnic spoke softly. And that's when I felt it, saw it for the first time, calmness. It felt overwhelming and centralised all around him, making me feel calm. I begin to cry and fall upon him for a hug, embracing him tight. It was the first time I wanted someone to hold me. I didnāt expect a response, nor did I know what the response would be. But to my surprise, he wraps his cold Omnic arms around me, patting me on the back. It was the first time I felt loved and wanted.
The Omnics pay Leon and they leave swiftly claiming āyou never saw me hereā¦ā whatever that meant. The two Omnics turn to me while I am observing the new parts and attachments.
They crouch down next to me and introduce themselves. āMy name is Valdettra, or Val for shortā¦ā the other Omnic cuts in excitedly āand mine is Delcatta!ā I remain looking at them with a curious expression. Though I could see it on them, I couldnāt wrap my head around why, but there was a strong aura of happiness around me and around them.
The years went by living with them peacefully, claiming me as their own. I spoke very little around them, but they understood. On days I would speak, they would probe into where I came from. āNew Zealandā¦ā I shyly responded.Ā
They gasped and Valdattra excitedly clapped his hands. And from there they taught me, told me about my cultureā¦something my useless father failed to doā¦I learned that is where Delcatta originated from and lived with a Te Reo family picking up all their cultural experiences. Growing up with Delcatta and Valdattra gave me freedom but also came with risk. I got to see the harm humans do upon the Omnics. With the risks, I respected Delcatta and Valdettra for going to protests, eventually I gained confidence that I would join them. My birthdays were always exciting, they would go all out for me, take me to my favourite restaurants even with all the dirty looks they'd get. I was gifted a special pounamu made from an old part of Delcatta. Funnily, I found out that he is pretty braveā¦and a bit reckless since theyāve been repaired hundreds of times now.Ā Valdattra would always joke āI used to be a soldier but I could never be like himā he chuckled āI am more of an artist anywayā¦āĀ
On clear nights, when I would have nightmares they would take me to the roof tops, and view the stars. Delcatta would tell me tales about my people āDid you know, this is how your ancestors knew their way around? It is how they could find their way back home!ā this would make my heart flutterā¦āwayfinding it was calledā. He would tell me about how he fell in love with Valdattra, and the stars āstars brought him to meā.
For my āschoolingsā, Valdattra would teach me art and English, but after manyā¦difficulties with lashing out into emotional wrecks, I also had to learn how to balance myself properly through meditation. While Delcatta would teach me everything else, even how to defend myselfā¦secretly, behind Valdattraās back.
They included stories of an Omnic named Aurora, the one who gave Omnics sentience and an Omnic they called Mondatta. Delcatta mentioned he travelled to Nepal and met him, he was very inspiring and wanted nothing but peace between Omnics and humans. Everytime they shared their stories, the more I felt I belonged with them.Ā
Growing up though, we have had our upsā¦and downs. As a standard teenager going through the motionsā¦slowly I was starting to see what being a family truly meant. Many times I would lash out against them for small things, waiting for them to lash out at me, waiting for those dreaded insults I used to get or things thrown at me. Instead, theyād let me cool down, Valdattra would help me with intense emotionsā¦is this what it feels to be loved? It was when I realised they are my heartā¦I meanā¦were my heart and soul.
My 16th birthday rolls around. I remember being really excited because going out again for my birthday dinner was on my mind. Breakfast was pancakes once again and Valdattra called out for me from the living room. Going in, I see him and Delcatta both holding something behind them, it was shaped like a long stick, almost broom shaped. āAre you seriously gifting me a broom? I get it, my room is messyā¦ā they laugh and hand it over to me, I open it and I cock my head āWhat is it?ā
āThis is a Tewhatewha! Well, a custom made one, we know how much you love the stories about the Taniwha, so much so you made that ridiculous jacketā¦so Valdattra carved this up.ā
Valdattra excitedly points out āI also added the paint brush head, so you can do your paintings with it.ā
Delcatta facepalms āthats not what it is used forā¦ā
āButā¦I donāt want her using it forā¦ā
āFor what?ā I look at them concerned. Delcatta puts his hand on my shoulder. āThis was used as a long ranged weapon that was passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, you never had the opportunity to have this, so we made you oneā¦ā
āBut please donāt use it to start fights or hurt people.ā Valdattra adds, āI only agreed to make it as a special gift from us so that whenever you leaveā¦you have something to remember us by.ā
Tears swell, there is a tight feeling in my chest and I clutch my pounamu and run to them for a big embrace.
The day went really well, we finally repaired the roof and finished my first art piece. Valdattra was really proud, even claiming it should be shown in a gallery. Eventually, the evening raced around. We went out together as usual and had dinner, pizza was my go to as always, it was a peaceful night. Less dirty looks were hurled our way. But peace can be broken so easilyā¦
We walked our usual route home, a group of young men started to look our way, first pestering usā¦ "Wadda we have hereā
āEy look at these fucking clankersā¦ā
āPlayn family eh?ā
āWhat are you doing with that girl eh?ā
Then throwing things our way and slurring towards Valdattra and Delcatta. āOi clankers, useless Omnicsā What we didnāt realise is that in our panic speedwalk away from them, we took a wrong turn and were stuck down an alleyway. Noticing the crowbars and pipes in the gang's hands I felt the strong feeling of fear, it was crippling. There was an opening as they ran towards us, Delcatta and I fought them off but there were two still aggressively targeting Delcatta. Keeping him occupied, he knew what he had to do.
āGO! Iāll hold themā he yelled. Valdattra didnāt want to leave, I could feel it, but he grabbed my arm and we ran as fast as we could. āDonāt look back, my dear.ā His voice is trembling. I could feel tears burning in my eyes, starting to block my vision. Many times I wanted to look back, but every time, I caught glimpses of Delcatta on the ground getting beaten and his blood flicking onto the pavement.
Home safe, I was overwhelmed with tears, I began screaming at Valdattra, throwing around accusations, hurtful words claiming he did nothing to help, that he just abandoned Delcatta. In my weakness, I called him a coward. I felt a seeping sadness blanketing Valdattra. It was consuming him. I began shaking, waiting for him to hit back with harsh words or physically, instead he tried to remind me of our practices for balancing my emotions and apologising profusely with a broken voice. It hurt me. Knowing that even with the hurtful things I attacked him with, there was no reaction, no slap against the face, no āyouāre an awful daughterā, just calm apologies and sadness. I fell upon the floor and cuddled myself, Valdattra joined me. Both of us were in pain, knowing that Delcatta wasnāt coming home from this fight this time.
I remember feeling seething hatred towards that gang but also crippling sadness. I spent the night curled up next to Valdattra as he spent the night not even speaking to me. He was broken, constantly cuddling himself, sounds of weeping but no tears. I even revisited the alley in hopes he was okay. But his body was there, cold and lifelessā¦his arms torn and bits were strewn everywhere. I felt all hope leave my body and something else crept, I remember it so clearlyā¦it was so numbing. āThat was itā I thought to myself, I wanted to take matters into my own hands.
I went around, asking about gangs in the area, or if people have noticed anyone abusing Omnics in the area. Eventually, after poking around, it seemed they wanted to find me instead. I found someone stalking me. I gripped my Tewhatewha tight and turned, leg-swiping him, catching him off guard and punching him in the nose. He looked like one of the gang members I saw that night, with that slicked back greasy hair, and shit eating smirk.
āWAIT WAIT, PLEASE DONāT KILL MEā he pleaded in a weaselly tone. āplease, please, pleaseā he was shaking on the ground and I could see he had wet himself. I felt nothing for this guyā¦even thinking of him as a coward for immediately pleading with me.Ā
I slammed him against the wall. I could see he was quite young, I could feel his fearā¦I could..see it? This has only happened a few times before, but very faintly and in the pastā¦
āYou saved me the troubleā¦take me to your gang!ā I proclaimed in a booming voice. āAnd then I will let you go.ā
He nods pathetically, with blood dripping from his nose. He showed me the way while I had him chained to me like a dog using my choker with a jean beltā¦it's amazing what you can whip up in a hurry. That's when he led me to their hideout. It was a rundown industrial area. I pushed the guy forward and tied him to a nearby post, I smirked at him with a dirty look. āWait here, Kunekuneā.
He whimpers and sobs. I climbed onto the roof and looked inside, five of them chilling on what is left of a couch, I couldn't see anyone else so I dropped downā¦sneaking on them. To be honest I didnāt have a plan. I just wanted to hurt them. From behind, I get startled when I hear someone yell out āOI WADDA YOU DOIN HERE?āĀ
āShitā¦āĀ
The guys on the couch all get up alarmed, I lunge at one of the men closest to me, biting his nose and punching him with my Omnic arm repeatedly. I knock him down but before I can do anything else I hear a gun cock.Ā
āshit shitā¦ā
A familiar voice breaks the silenced panic. āWAIT DONāT SHOOT HER!ā
ānoā¦no...noā¦no...no, donāt be please donāt be hereā My thoughts were racing.
āYou think I wouldnāt notice you sneaking out.ā Valdattra snaps.Ā
āYou brought your filthy Omnic ere girly?ā The man with the gun grunts, waving it close to my head.
āPlease donāt kill herā¦take me insteadā¦shes just a teenager.ā I can hear in Valdattraās voice how disappointed, and scared he is for me.
Tears begin to swell.
āNo, I can't lose you too.ā I whisper without noticing. Before I could react, before giving anyone the option, the man quickly turned his gun onto Valdattra and shot him in the head.Ā
In shock, I feel my body shut down. Everything was burning within, eyes wide, body shaking and I felt his blood splash on my face. Not even a scream can come outā¦my heartā¦it burnsā¦in my head there is a small voice screaming no over and overā¦but nothing comes outā¦
Suddenly, the men surrounding me pull their guns out. They begin to lock in on me. My armsā¦they are aching with my heart. It doesnāt take long, they start to make sniffling sounds. It's as if they areā¦crying? I canāt even look up. My eyes fixated on Valdattraās lifeless body, the hurt begins to echo out my arms start to leak glowing blue around meā¦then all I hear are sounds of gunshotsā¦
It takes me a moment to articulate. But I realise nothing hit me. Almost being able to break out of my paralysisā¦my shaking body trembling, I turn my head to observe my surroundings.
Corpsesā¦of the gang membersā¦all with gunshot wounds in their heads. I get up as if on autopilot and stumble towards Valdattra. I pick him upā¦carry him towards home. All I think while stumbling out of the run down building is āat least I can bury him next to his loveā. The hurt still sticks but there is an odd sensation of nothingnessā¦numbnessā¦I feel so cold.
Now Delcatta and Valdattra are reunited, I visit them often and talk to them, always hoping for a response. Before burying him, in the most mousy tone I complained to Valdattra āWhy? Why? Why did you HAVE to follow me? Why couldnāt you have stayed home?ā I curl up next to their graves. āI guess you proved yourself wrong, huh?ā¦you really were brave like Delcatta after allā¦ā
After living off the streets once more, I found I had a pretty niche skill of being quite stealthy, and have a good ability of manipulating information out of people. This set of skills ended up being in high demand. I would go around delivering information and special items for important people. On the side I would protect less fortunate Omnics in the area, providing them aid. Days and nights would pass, much like living with Delcatta and Valdattra but it got worse, I struggled to sleep from nightmares. Seeing so many corpses, both human and Omnicā¦seeing myself back trapped in that damned labā¦it was suffocating. So I would end up staying up, gazing once more at the stars, pretending once more I was still with Delcatta and Valdattra. I find it hard interacting with others normally, talking is hard sometimes but I picked up a few moments here and there where I could put on a mask. Learning to embrace my powers helped with that. Reading people's emotions and using it against them became like second nature to me. Even if it became overwhelming, I would meditate with the teachings Valdattra taught me. Eventually, my āabilitiesā grew. Harnessing them, it gave me new opportunitiesā¦so to speak. Word got around and I was offered work for a very wealthy Omnic by the name of Maximilien. Finding that my services would be usefulā¦he never wanted to meet me face to faceā¦though I never really gave him a choice.
After jumping around from private work as an informant and hired bounty hunter for him under Talon, I heard news that a familiar name of an Omnic was making an appearance in my old home. Mondatta. There was an odd warmth that burned within me, flashes of my memories with Delcatta and Valdattra. I wantedā¦noā¦needed to go and see Mondatta, even if from afar, seeing the Omnic that inspired Delcatta was something that I felt I owed them after everything that has happened.
On that night though, I saw the evil Talon truly was, their real face. It reminded me of Wairua all over again. Feeling betrayed by those who I thought I could trust.
Mondattaās speech was beautiful, I was lost in a trance listening to him and feeling all the emotion that was cloaking him in a warm embrace made me feel like I was with Delcatta and Valdattra againā¦causing me to cry. But as if time slowed, there was a loud gunshot that rang out across Kings Row. Mondattaās body falling to the stage while screams echo through the streets, I felt it all over againā¦angerā¦sadnessā¦griefā¦nothingness all at onceā¦overflowing. Though this time, there was an odd moment of clarity for me and I pushed it down, bottling it all up. Looking around me while I slowed my breathing, all that ran through my mind was how sick of all this needless death I was, and how I could put a stop to it.
I go poking around, I give my old friend Max a visit, only to learn that Mondatta's death was done at the hands of Widowmaker. It took a bit of a slight of hand, slipping some vulnerability into the room, making Max feel comfortable. Eventually, through the slip of the tongue, he told me everything I needed to know, without him truly aware. Thank you Max for the ammunition. He also brings up that there is a partnership offer. That a Talon ally needs assistance. āNull Sector, that vile Ramattra needs someone to aid his missions. Doomfist and I thought Sombra could help, but alas no one in Talon really sympathises with a violent revolutionary such as him.āĀ he says. āYou, though, could make an excellent inside agent for Talon. Steal his secrets and help him achieve whatever he wants. With your history, I assume you want to take thisā¦?āĀ
I will take this offerā¦but not in the way Max thinks I will. It gave me a chance to find a way to undo Talons filthy operations, and help Omnics while I was at it.
Now I am hereā¦went from working for Talon to Null Sector. Iāve finally found somewhere I can belong again.
At first their leader, Ramattra, was hesitant and also very judgemental of me. Poking at me that I was just another ungrateful human. Admittedly, I too was judgemental. All the walls I kept up made it hard to get along. Eventually he broke me down, and I did to him as well, seeing his suffering teaching me where to direct itā¦and I taught him about me and my past, even helping him with his cause by betraying Talon, misleading their missions. With Doomfistās downfall, lead Null Sectorā¦and myself to abandon Talonās aid. Through Ramattraās leadership, a new flame of passion is being fueled, and I will follow him into liberating his fellow brothers and sisters. Offering my support, I aid him in his battles, assisting in providing information that is essential to what the enemies are doing and giving his army the buffs they require.
Being by his side has given me a new purpose and with that, I canāt wait to show our enemies the true meaning of suffering.
very busy behind the scenes to open my shop soon!! Iāll have a rather small collection of stuff (some keychains, stickers and art prints) but I really missed my old shop so Iām very happy about it! and I made this cute linocut to make sure the envelopes wonāt get bent (hopefully)
yousharknotpass
2087
