FADE IN: EICHENWALDE - EVENING

The abandoned village of Eichenwalde is lifeless. The castle towers over the broken buildings overrun with greenery.

INT. BAR - PRESENT DAY

Reinhardt Wilhelm and Brigitte Lindholm are seated at a rundown bar. Reinhardt is staring at an Overwatch medal in his hand.

BRIGITTE: [to Reinhardt] I thought we talked about this. You don't have to do this anymore. Winston's message wasn't meant for you. This isn't your fight. Papa told me, after so many years of service, you gave Overwatch everything and then they pushed you out.

Reinhardt continues looking at the Overwatch medal he is holding.

BRIGITTE: Why would you go back to them? What are they still fighting for?

He turns the medal over to face the side with the Overwatch symbol as Brigitte’s voice fades into the background, and the scene changes.

INT. BAR - LONG AGO

The medal is now being held by Reinhardt in Crusader armor, many years in the past. The camera angle changes, showing a much younger version of himself.

REINHARDT: [to Balderich] So, that's it. You're leaving us.

He tosses medal to Balderich von Adler, who catches it.

BALDERICH: I have been called. I must answer. It is a great honor.
REINHARDT: Ah. To disappear into some secret organisation. Give up the glory of being a Crusader? [chuckles] I don't think so.

Reinhardt grabs a knife and starts to inscribe a word on the bar table. A trooper next to him laughs.

TROOPER #1: [to the man across from him] Ah, he wishes he got picked.

The trooper reaches to grab his drink, but Reinhardt grabs it first and guzzles it. He places the dripping mug next to his name he engraved in the table.

REINHARDT: The crusaders are immortal defenders of Germany! People will be singing songs about our legacies!

BALDERICH: Our legacies are our deeds, as this war is bigger than all of us.

TROOPER #2: General Balderich!

Another soldier runs into the bar.

TROOPER #2: Top heads to the east! They're coming!

BALDERICH: Alright, people. They're playing our song! Stick with your dance partners. Let's crush those rustbuckets!

The Crusaders and soldiers begin to rush out of the bar. Reinhardt winks at the first trooper and hands Balderich his rocket hammer.

REINHARDT: Here's your walking stick, old man.

Balderich takes it and laughs.
BALDERICH: Live with honor.

REINHARDT: Hah! Die with glory!

Balderich and Reinhardt shake hands.

EXT. STREETS

Incoming B73 units shoot at the Crusaders’ shields as multiple troopers follow behind them.

BALDERICH: We work as one!

He and the other Crusaders stop and place their shields on the ground, forming a barrier for the troopers.

BALDERICH: Rocket up!

Rocket troopers load their lauchers with rockets.

BALDERICH: Fire!

The rocket troopers fire their rockets at the B73s, their missiles streaking through the shields.

Reinhardt charges through the swarm of omnics, laughing as they fire on him. He grabs one by the head and scraping it against the floor before tossing it into another crowd of omnics and smashing another B73 with his rocket hammer.

REINHARDT: [laughs] I love the wind in my hair.
Balderich catches up to Reinhardt.

BALDERICH: Get back and protect your team!

REINHARDT: Ah, they're just slowing me down!

Reinhardt hefts his hammer and rushes off to smash more omnics.

REINHARDT: Besides, they're fine!

Troopers are taking cover from a hail of bullets behind a broken wall.

TROOPER #3: Where is Reinhardt?!

Up above, an omnic pod drops from the sky and crashes into the ground, stirring up a dust storm. The dust clears, revealing an OR-14 omnic.

TROOPER #4: What is that?

REINHARDT: That...is MINE!

Reinhardt charges at the OR-14, laughing.

BALDERICH: Damnit, Reinhardt!

The OR-14 fires at Reinhardt. Reinhardt pins the omnic, prompting it to firmly plant its legs into the concrete, stopping the charge. The OR-14 grabs Reinhardt by his armor’s collar and shoves him away. The omnic unsheathes a glowing blade in its arm slices him. Reinhardt falls to the ground in agony.

BALDERICH: Reinhardt!

FEMALE CRUSADER: Heads up! More of those things!

Another OR-14 drops onto the roof next to her, roaring, then on the Crusader. It gets up and fires at Balderich and the troopers, prompting other B73s to do the same. The troops begin to fall back under the barrage.

TROOPER #5: We're being overrun!

BALDERICH: Fall back to the rally point! I'll get Reinhardt!

Reinhardt regains his senses, a cauterized gash over his left eye, but is immediately pinned to the ground by the OR-14. The OR-14 draws its blade and prepares to attack, but Balderich smashes it into a wall with his rocket hammer. The OR-14 fires at Balderich, breaking his shield, before stabbing him in the side. Balderich gives out a slight moan and grabs the OR-14. He crushes its arm and smashes it with his rocket hammer before trying to maintain his balance, holding his waist.

REINHARDT: I had this!

BALDERICH: Obviously!

More the OR-14s begin firing at them both.

BALDERICH: They're cutting us off! Let's move it!

Reinhardt grabs his rocket hammer. Balderich and Reinhardt run from the horde of omnics and into the castle.

INT. CASTLE

Reinhardt quickly closes the doors and barricades them.

BALDERICH: The door won't hold...

Balderich and Reinhardt walk down the stairs.

BALDERICH: Get back to the unit. [grunts, holding his stabbed side] I'll hold them off.

REINHARDT: Hah! And let you have all the glory? [laughs] We'll fight our way back together!

Balderich plants his rocket hammer on the ground and takes off his helmet.

BALDERICH: No. I'm staying here.

Blue fluid drips through the armor from the wound in Balderich’s side. Reinhardt is incredulous.

REINHARDT: But I...without you...

BALDERICH: Lieutenant! You took an oath to be a Crusader. Now, keep it.

Balderich holds out his hand.

REINHARDT: I…

EXT. CASTLE

Outside, the omnics crash against the door.

INT. CASTLE

REINHARDT: I won’t leave you!

BALDERICH: The team needs you. Be their shield.

Reinhardt hesitates for a moment, before finally grabbing Balderich's hand. Balderich hands Reinhardt an Overwatch medal.

BALDERICH: Reinhardt. Live with honor.

Reinhardt offers Balderich his rocket hammer, which Balderich accepts.

REINHARDT: Die...with glory, old friend.

Reinhardt leaves. The doors crash open. Balderich dons his helmet and charges at the advancing omnic horde, swinging both of his rocket hammers at them.

EXT. STREETS

Soldiers fall under the heavy fire of the omnics as they flee. One of them is wounded and supported by another. The B73s in the front line switch to their sentry configuration. The wounded trooper shoots at them feebly. Suddenly, Reinhardt then crashes through the wall of a nearby building between them and activates his shield. The scenes are now in dramatic slow-motion as rubble flies and the shield materializes.

INT. CASTLE

Balderich swings his hammers at the omnics, obliterating them.

EXT. STREETS

Reinhardt’s shield is weakening under the heavy fire.

REINHARDT: Barrier...is....failing!

Reinhardt's shield gets destroyed, and he is blown back towards the two troopers.

INT. CASTLE

Balderich is blasted and throws one of his rocket hammers at an OR-14, destroying it.

EXT. STREETS

Reinhardt shields the two troopers with his body.

INT. CASTLE

Balderich charges at OR-14 and smashes it with his rocket hammer.

EXT. STREETS

Reinhardt grabs two of the troopers to protect them from an airstrike. After the airstrike passes, the troopers look at Reinhardt, who looks at the castle clouded with smoke from the attack.

INT. CASTLE

The last OR-14 falls and Balderich is extremely weary. He lies back on the throne and his helmet lights deactivate. He is dead.

INT. CASTLE - PRESENT DAY

Balderich’s body and armor remain in the throne. Reinhardt places his Overwatch medal on the right armrest as Brigitte stands behind him.

REINHARDT: I have been called. [turning to Brigitte] I must answer.

Reinhardt walks away. Brigitte watches.

REINHARDT: Always.

Balderich’s armor remains, illuminated by rays of sunlight from the decrepit castle ceiling.

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