The Overwatch Story

"Going once... Twice... Sold to cardholder 34... That is all for tonight" the auctioneer said as he quickly walked away from the spotlight of the stage.

The last bunged up OR15 was hauled off the stage. The spotlight that shined on the stage went off. Efi sat in silence watching as the last OR15 got auctioned off to the highest bidder. Cheers were heard in the back where bidder number 34 was sitting. A fortnight has passed since the attack on the airport. Officials have not confirmed the rumors that Doomfist was responsible but Efi knew. She was asked to keep it quiet to avoid unrest when her video evidence was confiscated. Since the OR15 failed to defend Numbani, the OR15 program has been shut down and the destroyed protectors were auctioned off to wealthy individuals wanting to add to their collection of items. The city plans on using the money generated from the auction to rebuild the city. Efi wanted to use her grant money to purchase an OR15 to modify it so that it may go up against Doomfist and protect Numbani. However, her grant money is still small and was outbid every time.

The room was empty now that everyone stepped out. Efi remained seated holding her card number hoping for the auctioneer to return and surprise her with another OR15 that he had missed. She felt a hand on her right shoulder as a tall person knelt down before her. It was her father who ran his fingers across her cheek, wiping a tear that she was not aware of shedding.

"We spoke about this Efi earlier. We knew the chances were small darling. You will figure it out. Let's go home." Her dad said.

She threw herself into her father's chest and hugged his warm body tightly. He wrapped his arms around her embracing her warmth.

"Oh! There are still people here. We were about to close up." A staff member spoke from the stage.

He looked really young and his clothes were too big for him. He must be one of the paid volunteers working at the auction today under short notice.

"Young man?" It was Efi's mother who spoke. "Is the auctioneer still around? Could we speak to him?"

The young man looked baffled and not sure what to do. He was not aware of protocols and whether that was something possible. He stood there still trying to figure out what to do until someone spoke from the shadows of the stage behind him.

"Yes. I am still around. It is not usual for me to speak to the bidders after the auction is over. But I will always make an exception for Efi." The auctioneer said as he walked out of the shadows.

He was wearing the same outfit but had his overcoat and long hat on. He was fully dressed and must have been on his way home as it was dark and late. He looked at Efi as she broke off from her father's hug and wiped her tears and snot.

"You know who I am?"

"Of course I do. I have been following your robotic creations and waiting for my Juno. I knew you were coming to the auction today since you posted it on your holovid's page." He said with a smile.

Efi has been working on the Juno models for a little less than a year, continuously making adjustments and modifications to supply the best robot for her customers when it's ready. She made a forum holovid page where she posts updates about her progress. Soon that page became her diary and shares about all her upcoming projects, including her plan to modify an OR15.

"If you know my daughter, then you know why she is here today. Do you have any OR15 left in the back?" Her mother asked.

The auctioneer pursed his lip before speaking. "We sold all of the OR15s models that we have. However we do have one model in the back that we could not display due to the state it was in. If you want, I could show it to-"