A new Overwatch short story titled Valkyrie was recently released, focusing on the character of Mercy in a time after the Overwatch team has been discredited and disbanded. Written by Michael Chu, the story is a quick read at a mere 24 pages — here are the main points.

The story takes place in Egypt, where Dr. Angela Ziegler has spent the past two years attempting to help people. Following the downfall of the Overwatch team, her professional reputation has suffered, and she needed a change. To distance herself from the reputation associated with Mercy, Angela has moved between Poland, South Korea, and Venezuela.

Via:bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net

Choosing to help Egypt seems primarily rooted in the guilt that Angela feels that, “everywhere I went, I felt the echoes of Overwatch, and my own guilt over the problems we had left behind when it had all fallen apart. Which is what led me to Egypt. Overwatch was responsible for much of the country’s suffering, and I needed to help repair it."

Her work in the area is interrupted by the arrival of Jack Morrison, now looking much older than when they had first met years ago, and scarred, along with Ana Amari. Jack needs medical attention for a mysterious wound on his back, one that cannot be healed with the basic supplies in Angela’s apartment. Ana meanwhile was long-thought dead, and Angela reflects that, “I should have been happy to know that Jack and Ana were alive. But they were both a very physical manifestation of something that I was trying to escape."

Via: forbes.com

Their brief conversation reveals that Jack and Ana are looking to uncover the truth about Overwatch, Talon, and Switzerland. They are sure that there is more to the story than people have been told, thought Angela remains unconvinced.

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Moreover, the conversation makes her reflect on the steps that brought her to this situation, and we are presented with the moment in which Angela decided to join Overwatch. Her overall desire had been to help people, and through Jack’s overwhelming confidence that her efforts could be used to reach such goals, she finally agreed to join despite her reservations.

Later, the city is attacked by Talon, and Jack and Ana spring into action. Angela too says that she will go to help the injured, but quickly is convinced to don her old Valkyrie suit once more, dented and damaged, but still fully functional.

With the Valkyrie suit, Angela becomes Mercy once again and can help two children, though their parents died in the attack. The news hits Angela hard, reminding her of the way her own parents died in an air strike when she was a girl. The story closes with Angela reflecting on the words of Ana, and how even when a fight ends in failure, “we all must face our everyday challenges and crises. From time to time, our will to fight is worn down, but it will always return. As I watched Hanan spread her arms like wings, I knew that my battle was not over. Heroes never die."

Via: gear.blizzard.com

The story leaves us with plenty of questions. Sojourn is referenced often, and clearly this is meant to drum up interest for her eventual inclusion in Overwatch 2. Given the PvE nature of the sequel, we may even get to experience the entire short story through a campaign. It would not be so far fetched, especially when most of the action is supposed to be taking place in or around the Anubis map. Finally, the illustrations throughout the story point towards the release of a Dr. Mercy skin, complete with lab coat and stethoscope.

Source: bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net

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