"- Ich schwöre, ich werde sie alle in den Müll werfen und mit diesen Fehlern fertig sein!
- What's that Doc? You're doing it again...
- What exactly am I doing again Lena?
- Mumbling in German. You always do this when you're pissed off but don't want to worry people around. After all our time together, I noticed you know. What happened?
- It's... It's nothing you need to worry about.
- See! That's exactly what I meant! You can tell me Angela, maybe I can help.
- *Sighs* Remember the bank heist?
- Bloody right I do! I spent a week as big a bug Doc, that's not the kind of things you forget.
- Do you remember the people in that bank?
- The ones you keep in that box? The one you think I don't know about? Sure, I come say hello from time to time. They're cute, all tiny and scared every time I open their little house.
- Wait, you knew they were in there? Did you... Are you... You wouldn't happen to know what happened to Sara would you? Brunette, fit, with a tattoo on her left arm.
- No idea...
-Right... Doesn't matter. What matters is that I can't seem to find a way to cure them. I've tried everything, nothing worked. Worse, is that they've all kept on shrinking more and more since we collected them at the bank.
- I'm sure you'll find something Doc, you always do! Don't give up!
- It's been 9 months Lena... I can't even manipulate them or take samples without risking their lives anymore. I mean look at this one.
- Where?
- There, on the microscope.
- Oh my God, it was here all along! I didn't even know! Hello little one... oh am I scaring it? Don't be scared, it's okay, it's just me.
- It? Hey, I'm not an 'it'! I'm a woman! A human woman, you hear me you big giant idiot!
- Is it trying to say something Doc? It looks pissed, it's kinda funny...
- I don't know. I've stopped trying to communicate with them a few months ago. It's useless to even try at this point. This one's just under 3 millimeters tall. It's like trying to talk to dust. I don't think I'll be able to do anything more Lena.
- So... what are you going to do with them then? You can't just put them back outside, they'll get eaten or crushed or something.
-No. That and we never announced their conditions to their families. For all they know, they turned out missing during the heist.
- Oh, we can't give them back Doc. Not with our current reputation. Overwatch's only been back for a little while and it certainly hasn't been unanimous praise for us since then. This out there would destroy us... again.
- I can hear you! You can't just keep us there! My husband, my daughter... they have the right to now! I'm not a bug you can discard! I'm human goddamnit! You hear me!
- Giving them back to their families and making this debacle public is out of the question. I just... I just don't know what to do with them. I swore an oath, I can't just...
- It's okay, Doc. You don't have to do anything harsh. You know, there's no reason to do anything final. It's not like they represent a big risk as they are right now. Perhaps we could keep them? Give them a terrarium or something. They certainly do an amazing job at cleaning shoes... I mean, I imagine they could!
- Lena...
- Fine. I might have kept a few. It's not like they were going anywhere anyway. You said so yourself!
- It wasn't a reason, you know that. But fine, keep them if you want to. Just make sure they stay pretty hidden. I suppose it won't be that hard now.
- You're serious? Thanks Doctor Ziegler! I'll take good care of them. Hear that tiny one? You're going to join your friends! I know it's not perfect, but really, it's better than the alternative right? I'm sure you agree.
- No, no, no... You can't! You can't do that! I'm a person... please someone... help. I'm not a bug..."
- Thank you Lena. For taking that off my shoulders. I'll owe you one.
- No worries Doc. You got me back to size, that's the least I could do!"
What a fate! I know a lot of us would feel pretty happy in those tinies' position but, for the non-initiated, that would be traumatic. I hope you like this last part of the Community Creation #1. I didn't think I'd add onto the original comics at first, but when the idea popped in my head, I knew it had to be done.
It was also the perfect piece for me to pay tribute to one of my favorite renders of all time. A piece by OpenHighHat that changed my perspective on size and pushed me to make renders of my own.
Finally, welcome to all the new Patrons who joined in May so far! You're all awesome and I hope you've enjoyed this little story focusing on Mercy :)