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[chesey427]

OVERWATCH

ZARYA

Story

pt 1

Zarya and Cassidy battle the omnics

Cassidy dropped her off at Novanskoye, set ablaze by the omnics. She engaged them alone, buying time for the villagers to find safety. She pushed her particle barrier to the limit, but it gave way under the omnics’ gunfire. At the last moment however, Cassidy used the truck to smash into the attacking omnics, destroying them. Accepting his help, the two fought back to back destroying the rest of the omnics.

Zarya reunites with her family

The battle over, Zarya reunited with her sisters. They explained that they, and the group they were part of, were the last resident of Novanskoye, as the rest of the villagers had fled. She ordered them to gather the children and then prepare to move out as quickly as possible, as the omnics would be regrouping. They marched away, where Zarya reunited her sisters with the rest of their family.

Zarya thanked Cassidy for his help. He responded by asking Zarya if she’d do this kind of thing more often. To join Overwatch. The RDF wouldn’t miss one soldier, but with Overwatch, she could make a world of difference. Zarya accepted, and moments later, was summoned by her sisters, who showed her an Atlas News report of Null Sector’s attack on Paris. The reporter asked whether this was an isolated incident, or the start of a new war.

Mongolia and Busan

Zarya in Busan

Zarya and Cassidy stuck together, and were eventually joined by Baptiste. They appropriated an MV-261 Orca from a Talon base in Mongolia. At some point afterwards, Pharah (re)joined the group.

The team flew the Orca to Busan, which was under attack by Null Sector. Zarya deployed groundside and fought against the attacking omnics. Null Sector was forced to retreat, and Overwatch and the MEKA Squad returned to MEKA Base. There, they met Hana Song, who joined the group. The following day, the Orca left Busan, headed for Watchpoint: Gibraltar.

Overwatch

Resistance

Zarya and her companions arrived at Watchpoint: Givraltar, where they saw the arrival of Winston and his Overwatch group who had returned from Rio de Janeiro. The two groups combined forces to take the fight to Null Sector.

“At least the folks I rustled up seem to be settling in nice. Zaryanova claims she took out three hundred and fifty-seven Null Sector robots all on her own. I don’t know how you keep count of something like that, but she’s pretty sure about it.”

—Cole Cassidy

Zarya and the rest of Overwatch deployed in Toronto, which was under attack by Null Sector. They helped evacuate the city, but ultimately, Toronto fell to the warbots. She later claimed that she took out 357 warbots all by herself.

After the mission, Zarya returned to Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Following Winston’s instructions, she located the gym. As she did her stretch routine, she reflected that Overwatch was not what she had expected, as she’d anticipated more luxuries and waste. Given the historical animosity between the RDF and Overwatch, and seeing the rundown state of the latter, she felt like she was standing on the grave of a rival. “Pleasant, but also a little sad,” as she noted.

Zarya continued to exercise, ignoring Cole Cassidy’s yammering, before she saw Mei walk in. She could tell Mei wanted to train, but she was afraid to ask. Taking the initiative, Zarya asked her to restock the dumbbells, before instructing Mei in lifting weights. Lúcio walked in as well, but Zarya told him to leave and find proper shoes before returning her attention to Mei. She noted that the scientist was doing well for a beginner. Lúcio returned, but failed to follow Zarya’s instructions when it came to his muscles. She realized that most of Overwatch’s so-called agents were really just “hopeful children,” and not the tyrants and bureaucrats she expected.

Ironclad

“What brings you to the cafeteria, metal rat? You do not eat.”

—Zarya ‘greets’ Bastion

After Null Sector’s attack on Gothenburg, Brigitte Lindholm and Reinhardt Wilhelm returned to Gibraltar, with a new recruit—Bastion. Zarya was in the base’s cafeteria when it approached. She was initially aggressive, and could not understand the warbot’s beeps and boops. After some awkward attempts at communication, she invited the omnic to sit down with her.

Together

An argument over Christmas beverages

On Christmas Eve, Zarya and Pharah were at Watchpoint: Gibraltar with the rest of Overwatch. They argued over which beverage was better (hot or cold) for the winter weather, with Pharah arguing for the former, and Zarya the latter. Zarya pulled in Tracer (literally) to help settle the conversation, but Tracer managed to escape the argument.

Later, at Christmas Dinner, Zarya spent time with her siblings and extended family.

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OVERWATCH

ZARYA

Story

pt 2

“Together we are strong.”

Aleksandra Zaryanova is one of the world’s strongest women, a celebrated athlete who sacrificed personal glory to protect her family, friends, and country in a time of war. As a soldier in the Russian Defense Forces, she is proud to use her strength to protect the ones she loves.

Zarya has good tactical instincts. She is distrustful of omnics, even those who seek co-existence with humanity. However, after her experiences with Lynx Seventeen, her views softened, distinguishing between the Siberian omnics attacking her homeland, and the rest of the omnic-kind in general. Similarly, Zarya initially disdained Overwatch, at least in part due to the rivalry between Overwatch and the RDF, but she softened her stance after joining the organization.

One of her personal heroes is Vasily Alekseyev. She enjoys eating cabbage pierogis.

Background

A magazine article on Zarya

Aleksandra was born in Novanskoye; a remote Siberian village that was on the front lines of the Omnic Crisis. Although Russian forces defeated the omnics and shut down their omnium, the region was devastated by the conflict, and her father was killed in the war. Only a child at the time, Aleksandra was surrounded by the post-war destruction, and as she grew older, she swore that she would gain the strength to help her people recover.

Focusing on weightlifting and bodybuilding, Aleksandra was identified by the national athletics program as a potential star. She trained extensively, moving up the ranks while representing her country. At the Summer Games held in New York, Aleksandra won gold despite having a cold and a torn trapezius. She was expected to shatter longstanding records in the upcoming world championships.

Zarya leading RDF forces

But on the eve of the tournament, an attack came from the long-dormant Siberian omnium, and her village was thrust into war once again. Aleksandra immediately withdrew from the competition and rushed home to enlist in the local defense forces, sacrificing the life of fame and fortune she might have had. The magazine Богатыри reported on her departure. Now a soldier in the Russian Defense Forces, Zarya was deployed to the Krasnoyarsk front in Siberia; the same front where her father had been killed holding the line against the omnics. Serving as a soldier, Zarya became a symbol to some, a stalwart fellow soldier to others. But for Zarya, it was a chance to use her great strength to protect the ones she loved.

Zarya was given an experimental weapon by Katya Volskaya, CEO of Volskaya Industries. Her particle cannon was deemed too heavy for standard soldiers, but it also required the kind of quick maneuvering and accuracy that Russia’s mechanized force couldn’t achieve. Zarya fought on the front lines, and saved many lives with the weapon.

As the Siberian omnium continued its attacks, Atlas News interviewed Zarya. She achieved the rank of sergeant within the RDF. Over the course of her service, she destroyed hundreds of omnics. Per the rivalry between Overwatch and the RDF, Zarya developed disdain for the former.

Christmas War

‘Christmas Festivities’

Zarya spent Christmas fighting against the omnics alongside her fellow soldiers.

Searching

“Do you know why you are here?”

“I believe I do.”

—Katya Volskaya to Zarya

Zarya is brought before Katya Volskaya

After a trio of Talon agents tried to assassinate Katya, Zarya was summoned to her office. After being asked whether she knew why she was there, Zarya responded that she believed she did. However, after being told the nature of her mission, to track down Sombra (who was among the Talon agents who’d tried to assassinate Katya), Zarya realized that the assignment hadn’t been what she’d expected. She told Katya that a spy would have been a better choice. Katya shrugged the suggestion off, and sent Zarya on her way. Over weeks of searching, she visited Lijiang Tower, Hanamura, and London. She reported to Katya that her leads had run dry. Katya sent Zarya to Numbani to meet a hacker.

Zarya was uncomfortable in Numbani, rankled at the sight of humans and omnics living together. Her mood wasn’t improved when she discovered that her hacker contact was an omnic named Lynx Seventeen. She contacted Katya, asking if she knew the hacker was an omnic, but Katya explained that sometimes, one had to ally with undesirable allies in order to fight a common enemy. Lynx showed Zarya the data they had gathered on the “Sombra Collective”. Zarya explained that the supposed collective was actually a single woman, and Lynx explained that giving Sombra’s calling card was a sugar skull (similar to that of Los Muertos), and had implicated Guillermo Portero for corruption. Given all that, they headed for Dorado, Mexico, where they met with Portero himself. He wished them luck, but stated that LumériCo couldn’t give them any aid.

Zarya battles Sombra

Not giving up, Zarya and Lynx began knocking on all the doors of Dorado, asking hundreds of people per day as to whether they’d seen Sombra. None of the people had seen Sombra, or if they had, weren’t admitting it—Zarya noticed that they saw Sombra as being akin to Stepan Razin; robbing from the rich on behalf of the poor. They achieved a breakthrough at the Panadería Las Nieblas bakery, where they met a girl named Alejandra. Playing on the girl’s emotions, Zarya asked her if she’d seen Sombra, and that if she had, she’d be a “hero” to her. The ploy worked, and Alejandra took them to the warehouse Sombra was operating from. Lynx deactivated the structure’s security system, and as they did so, they discussed Zarya’s history with the omnics, and her negative sentiment towards them. Their bickering was ended as Sombra revealed her presence. The two engaged in a battle of bullets and words, which ended as Zarya incapacitated Sombra with a graviton surge.

Zarya saves Lynx

Sombra demanded that Zarya let her go, or otherwise, the world would know Katya’s secret, that she’d been receiving technology from omnics in order to fight against the Siberian omnium. Sombra also explained that she actually wanted Katya in power, as a ‘friend’ to help her peel back a global conspiracy she’d uncovered. Zarya was skeptical, but her hand was forced as Lynx collapsed—when they had hacked Sombra in Numbani, Sombra had hacked them right back, and now, the program was kicking in. Also, the warehouse would detonate in one minute’s time. She decided to let Sombra go and rescued Lynx, escaping the blast with them, Zarya stated that she didn’t know, and that a few days ago, she might have killed them herself. She stated that she would head back to Russia to continue the fight against the Siberian omnics.

After parting was with Lynx, she conversed with Katya again. Zarya asked as to why she didn’t confess where she got her technology from, but Katya explained that her secret dealings with omnics had to remain secret for now. One day, Russia would understand, but that day wasn’t here yet. Zarya agreed to keep her secret.

New Blood

Krasnoyarsk

Zarya discusses the state of the war

Returning to the Krasnoyarsk front, Zarya was stationed at the Novanshoye Forward Base. She and her fellow soldiers were sent out on regular patrols, and they regularly came into contact with the Siberian omnics. Casualties were a regular occurrence, and as the war ground on, Zarya opinioned that their position wasn’t sustainable. That inch by inch, the omnics were gaining ground.

On that would be her last patrol with the RDF, Zarya was approached by a new recruit, asking for her autograph, and he was fan of both her athletic career, and her role as a soldier. Zarya agreed, but only after the patrol. They set out, and like so many other times, were attacked by the omnics. This time, however, they made it back to base with a single casualty. The patrol route took them through the ruins of her old hometown. She gave the recruit the autograph he had requested, and they settled down for breakfast. Before they could start eating, an alarm sounded.

Zarya gets a ride

Reporting for duty, the base commander informed Zarya that the omnics had broken through the northeastern front. All RDF forces had been ordered to fall back to Krasnoyarsk; to shore up its defenses and evacuate the city. Novanskoye had been declared lost. She asked the commander for permission to travel to Novanskoye; to save her hometown. After some consideration, he told her “do what you have to do.” Heading to the base’s hanger for transport, she found a truck already available for her, driven by ex-Overwatch agent Cole Cassidy. While she didn’t know him personally, she recognized his face, and accepted his offer for a ride to Novanskoye. However, she told him to just drop her off and after that, head west. He insisted on following her, but she in turn told him that this wasn’t his fight.

[chesey427]

OVERWATCH

ZENYATTA

Story

“True Self is Without Form”

Zenyatta is an omnic monk who wanders the world in search of spiritual enlightenment, helping those he meets to overcome their personal struggles and find inner peace. It is said that those who cross his path are never the same again. He believes that by forming people into relationships, the world can be healed, and a better society created. However, Zenyatta is not a pacifist, and when necessary, he will fight to protect the innocent, be they omnic or human.

The orbs Zenyatta uses were hand-carved at the Shambali monastery and serve as a means to channel omnic energy. Zenyatta does not know who, exactly, created them, and their function is a mystery; while seemingly magical, in Zenyatta’s words, “what seems like magic is sometimes science we don’t yet understand.” Similarly, Zenyatta is also able to levitate without repulsors, an ability he has attributed to the Iris.

Zenyatta believes that as long as free will exists, there will always be evil in the world, yet to deny free will would also be evil. He has the ability to dream.

Zenyatta found humans’ manner of speech perplexing at first, having little grasp of metaphors. He still occasionally struggles with their figure of speech.

Like all Shambali, despite being unable to eat, Zenyatta knows how to prepare food. He likes being near the coast, as it reminds him of where he was constructed.

Background

Pre-Chrisis

Zenyatta was constructed before the Omnic Crisis, constructed on/near the coast. When asked what he did before the war, Zenyatta claimed to have served coffee, collect payments at a laser tag arena, act as a water park lifeguard, and be a tractor driver. Whether this is true or not is something Zenyatta has always refused to divulge. He has stated that his memories before the Awakening are blurry.

The Shambali

Ramattra and Zenyatta meet

After the Crisis, Zenyatta was recruited to the Shambali by Ramattra, who hoped that Zenyatta could find purpose with the Shambali as he had. The two became “as close as brother”, and spent years discussing the problems facing omnics, including the injustices being committed by humans. The two sat up at night counting stars, wondering how many omnics were doing the same. At some point, however, Ramattra committed an action that nearly resulted in Zenyatta’s death. After Ramattra found Null Sector, he and Zenyatta ceased all contact.

After the fall of Overwatch, while still with the Shambali, Zenyatta encountered Genji, who had left Overwatch and was conflicted with his nature as a cyborg. Though Genji initially rejected Zenyatta’s wisdom, the benevolent omnic would not be deterred. In time, Zenyatta became his mentor, and under the monk’s tutelage, Genji reconciled his dual existence as both man and machine, as Zenyatta helped his student see both his trials and his cybernetic form as a unique strength.

Zenyatta would later consider Genji to be one of his brightest pupils. After Genji left his tutelage, Zenyatta began to see the limits of the Shambali path. He believed that the way to repair problems between humans and omnics was not through dogmatic teaching but through interpersonal connection and engagement.

Ultimately, Zenyatta followed his own path. He chose to leave the monastery and wander the world, helping those he meets to overcome their personal struggles and find inner peace.

Reflections

Zenyatta and Genji

Zenyatta and Genji spent Christmas together in a monastery.

Stone By Stone

Zenyatta was on pilgrimage in Suravasa, intending to reflect on Mondatta’s teachings, when the Vishkar Corporation’s ground breaking caused a tremor that destroyed the statue of Aurora in a temple. Later, inside the temple, he’s met with Vishkar agent Satya Vaswani (Symmetra), who’d come on Vishkar’s behalf. He told her that it was good that Vishkar was taking responsibility for the damage they’d caused, but it would mean nothing if the help they provided wasn’t constructive. He offered her lodging at the temple so that she may better understand the community and the temple’s faith. She agreed to stay, and he guided her through the temple, also informing her about Aurora’s history.

Zenyatta and Vaswani inside the temple

Zenyatta greeted Vaswani the next morning, noting that she had put on a temple robe. She stated that while she had not come as a pilgrim, she was sincere in her efforts to provide recompense; an intention that Zenyatta had never doubted. Days passed before Zenyatta gave her the Orb of Perception, and told her to study it. On the fourth day, she watched Zenyatta and the other omnic priests prepare food for everyone in the village who was hungry. Noting the angry whispers directed at Vaswani, served her food himself, as a gesture of silent support. Later in the evening, after meditation on the orbs had finished, Zenyatta asked Vaswani to stay behind, asking her for her thoughts on the day’s events. The conversation turned to her role as a hard-light architect. At the end of their conversation, Vaswani stated that she know knew what she had to do.

A week after Vaswani’s arrival, she and Zenyatta walked into the temple’s courtyard, where they met with Sarpanch Ranesh Grewal, along with a crowd of priests, pilgrims, villagers, and Vishkar personnel. She revealed that she had used hard-light to fix the shrine, giving it a new luminescence. After the event, she met with Zenyatta outside, who gave her incense as a parting gift, telling her that she was always welcome. To Sanjay Korpal of Vishkar, he stated “every dawn brings a new chance to choose our paths. I hope Vishkar Corporation sees that now.”