Mei Ling Zhou - Overwatch

Real Name: Mei Ling Zhou Birth: September 5th Age: 33 (biological) approx. 42 (chronological) Nationality: Chinese Occupation: Climatologist, Adventurer, Base: Xi’an, China (formerly) Affiliation: Overwatch, Atlas News

Powers & Abilities: Highly Intelligent: Mei is one of the most skilled scientists in the world. At one point, she was considered the best climatologist alive.

Equipment: Endothermic Blaster: A cryogenic gun that can shoot icy projectiles in short bursts, which freeze the opponent in place, or as solid icicles that deal high damage. With this gun, she can also create full structures of ice.

Ice Wall: Mei creates a large wall of ice that blocks the enemies' path and attacks.

Cryo-Freeze: Mei instantly surrounds herself with a block of thick ice. She heals and ignores damage while encased, but cannot move or use abilities.

Speed: Non currently

Durability: Survived being frozen for decades. With her Cryo-Freeze move, she can withstand attacks from every single weapon in the game, even the explosion of D.Va's MEKA. Capable of surviving extreme temperatures.

Skill: One of the world's most respected climatologists. Became a member of Overwatch. Managed to save a nest of endangered wildlife from a collapsing glacier.

Weaknesses: Not a very experienced fighter.

Feats: Strength:Capable of dealing damage to heavily armoured foes, such as Reinhardt Wilhelm. Can toss her drone quite far with just one arm.

Weather Modification Drone: A small drone that helps Mei during battles. It can produce streams of ice to increase Mei's mobility, or it can create a Blizzard that freezes all enemies in an area, allowing Mei to take advantage and attack them.

Background: Mei is a scientist who has taken the fight to preserve the environment into her own hands. Though many blamed the planet's escalating, unexplained climate phenomena on the advent of new technologies, the rapidly growing Omnic population, and drastically increased consumption of resources, the true cause remained unknown. To find a solution, Overwatch established a series of eco-Watchpoints at remote, critical locations worldwide.

Mei-Ling Zhou was a member of this multiyear initiative. A peerless climatologist, she had introduced cutting-edge innovations in the field of climate manipulation that protected at-risk areas in Asia and beyond. She was assigned to the program's monitoring station at Watchpoint: Antarctica when disaster struck: a sudden, catastrophic polar storm battered the installation and cut it off from the outside world, leaving the facility damaged and the scientists stranded. As their supplies dwindled, they entered cryostasis in a last-ditch effort to survive until a rescue attempt could be made.

But that rescue never came. It was years later when the team's cryogenics chamber was finally discovered. Mei, still in hibernation, was the only survivor. The world Mei awoke to had gone through considerable changes: Overwatch was no more, the serious climate issues had worsened, and none of the eco-Watchpoints were in operation. Any clues that they had uncovered were lost.

Mei has decided to continue her work on her own. Equipped with a portable version of her climate-manipulation technology, she travels around the world, hoping to re-establish the eco-network and track down the causes of the threats to the planet's ecosystem.

Cheerful, creative, and optimistic, even in the face of overwhelming odds,[4] Dr. Mei-Ling Zhou is a world-renowned climatologist[5] who has taken the fight to preserve the environment into her own hands.[6] She specializes in the study of abnormal climate phenomena and their effects on different ecosystems around the world. She strongly believes in preserving the world for future generations,[7] and is determined to fight for a better future.[5] While originally just a scientist, Winston's recall order has inspired her to heroism.[8]

Mei is a fan of Lúcio's music.[9]

Early Research “ Studying climate phenomena, I've run into some pretty obstinate anti-intellectualists, but you might be the worst. You can argue with me, but you can't argue with data! And the data says...you're incredibly annoying! „ ~ Mei loses her 'cool' Mei was friends with Jiayi in grad school. According to Mei, she and Jiayi "had a lot of fun in grad school. Maybe too much."[10]

During her years in climatology, Mei encountered a number of "obstinate anti-intellectualists." At some point, she attended a climatology conference.[9] She introduced cutting-edge innovations in the field of climate manipulation that protected at-risk areas in Asia and beyond.[6]

Ecopoint: Antarctica “ A little bit about me: my name is Mei (yes, that Mei!), and I specialize in abnormal climate phenomena and their effects on different ecosystems around the world. I know that sounds really boring, but I'll do my best to make it entertaining! „ ~ Mei in her journal Though many blamed the planet's escalating, unexplained climate phenomena on the advent of new technologies, the rapidly growing omnic population, and drastically increased consumption of resources, the true cause remained unknown. To find a solution, Overwatch established a series of eco-Watchpoints at remote, critical locations worldwide.

Mei-RiseShine Mei makes a recording before entering cryo

Mei was a member of this multi-year initiative. A peerless climatologist, she was assigned to the program's monitoring station at Watchpoint: Antarctica.[6] An atmospheric anomaly above Antarctica was the basis of the base's research,[11] but then, disaster struck: a sudden, catastrophic polar storm battered the installation and cut it off from the outside world, leaving the facility damaged and the scientists stranded. As their supplies dwindled, they entered cryostasis in a last-ditch effort to survive until a rescue attempt could be made.[6] Before entering cryo, Mei made a recording, anticipating waking up and finding a wealth of data to examine (as she left the sensors on).[11]

Rise and Shine Mei-RiseShine2 Mei wakes up

Nine years passed before Mei woke up,[11] not a physical day older due to being in cryo.[12] Her cryo pod was reactivated once the base received an external message, albeit too weak to properly display on the base's terminals. Alongside Snowball (the base's droid), she got dressed, made tea, and looked at the data she'd collected, discovering that the anomaly was much worse than predicted. Snowball revealed that she'd been in stasis for nine years, much to her horror; surely Overwatch would have come for them in that time. She tried to communicate with the outside world, but the comms were down. The base however, had accumulated news reports over the years the comms were active, which revealed that in the interim, the Ecopoint had been considered lost in the ice storm, and Overwatch had been shut down. No one knew they were here. It was at this point that she began to wonder where her fellow researchers were, and rushed back to the cryo-chamber. She discovered that all of the pods bar her own had malfunctioned, and as a result, they had perished. She broke down crying, alone in the base, with only Snowball for company. She promised to get the data they'd collected to the world. Or at least try.

Mei-RiseShine3 Mei looks up at the dish

Mei headed outside. However, the dish was broken (which prevented any outgoing transmissions), the base's vehicles were incapacitated, and looking out across the vast Antarctic landscape quickly discouraged any thoughts of hiking out. She went back inside, faced with isolation (bar Snowball), and the knowledge that the base's power wouldn't last indefinitely. She noticed the transmission that had been sent earlier, one that was being sent over Overwatch's emergency frequency. Perhaps someone knew they were here, but to find out, they'd need to reinforce the radio tower so she could climb it and access the dish. Over the next several days, Mei scavenged material to build an endothermic blaster and a makeshift antenna. She nearly completed it, but it was at this point that the base's last battery gave out. Snowball sacrificed his own power to recharge Mei's workstation, and as such, she was able to finish the blaster. Through it, she was able to use its ice properties to climb the tower and get to the dish. Using her antenna, she discovered that the message had been sent from Winston, urging Overwatch's former agents to get back together to face the troubles facing their world. Mei decided to answer the call. Before leaving, she paid her final respects to her friends before taking a sled of supplies, and hiked across the Antarctic landscape with confidence. To her joy, she found that Snowball (whom she'd taken with her) had regained his power, thanks to a portable solar panel she had taken with her.[11]

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A New World “ People look at me like I'm crazy when I say I miss Antarctica. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was lonely. But the scenery... I've never seen anything like it! There's a mountain range called Wolf's Jaw, in Queen Maud Land...Stone spikes, thousands of feet high, jutting from that featureless white expanse...That was Captain Opara's favorite place. Some day, when this is all over, I want to go back. „ ~ Mei reflecting on her time in Antarctica Mei-RiseShine4 Mei and Snowball leave the base

Mei found herself awakened to a world that had undergone considerable changes. Not only was Overwatch no more, but the serious climate issues had worsened, and none of the eco-watchpoints were in operation. Any clues that they had uncovered were lost.[6]

Having received Winston's recall order, Mei travelled to Watchpoint: Gibraltar, where she met Winston and Tracer (who had rejoined Overwatch). She decided to continue her climatology work.[13] Winston suggested she start writing a journal, telling her that people would find her "unique" perspective interesting.[7] Equipped with a portable version of her climate-manipulation technology, she traveled around the world, hoping to re-establish the eco-network and track down the causes of the threats to the planet's ecosystem.[6]

Despite her ordeal in Antarctica, she still missed the continent, and hoped to return to it someday.[9]

New Journeys “ Someday, I'm going to finally travel the world. Got any tips? Travel light, but you never know when you're going to need more socks. And underwear. And shirts. And pants. „ ~ D.Va and Mei Note: The following events aren't necessarily in chronological order.

The Arctic At some point Mei rescued a nest of endangered Arctic wildlife from a collapsing glacier using her technology. Her deeds were reported on by Olympia Shaw.[14]

Mei's Adventures “ So I'm starting this journal. Honestly, I'm not sure who's going to want to read this. It was the idea of my colleague, Winston. He thinks that people will find my "unique" perspective interesting. (We'll see if he's right!) At the very least, it'll help me pass the time, and believe me, when you're huddled in a shelter and it's -20° C outside (brrrr!), you have a lot of time to kill. (And 雪球 (Snowball) isn't the greatest conversationalist.) „ ~ Mei's first journal entry Mei wrote her first journal entry and made it available to the public while in Canada's Yukon territory near Mount Logan, while testing her new gear. She concluded that it was in working order (a step up from a few days ago, when she'd accidentally frozen her arm), and began studying the local wildlife. Six days later, she decided to head to Asia, to investigate the abandoned Overwatch stations there. Before doing so, she took a break by flying south into Los Angeles to see Six-Gun Killer. Two days after that, she was in Asia, investigating a mountain ecosystem[7] (possibly the Himalayas).[15]

One of her avid readers was D.Va, who was fascinated with all the different places Mei has seen as the young mech pilot was not able to freely travel herself.[16]

Holiday Season “ White Christmas! Massive winter storm hits England! „ ~ Mei, in a television interview with Atlas News Mei-reflections Mei reports for Atlas News

During the winter holiday season, Mei reported on a massive snowstorm that was hitting London on Atlas News.[17]

Null Sector Invasion Zero Hour “ Winston? What's on your mind, Mei? Do...do we have enough people for this mission? As long as we stick together, we'll be fine. „ ~ Mei and Winston before landing Mei-ZH Mei and Snowball aboard the Orca

When Null Sector attacked Paris, Mei put her journey on hold.[13] She teamed up with Winston and Tracer as they flew in the Orca to engage the attacking omnics. Mei expressed doubt that the three of them would be enough to defend the city. Winston told her that as long as they stuck together, they'd be fine. Landing, they engaged the omnics. Winston told Mei to get the civilians to the Orca, but before she could do that, a Titan made its presence known. It fired missiles followed by a laser, the latter of which destroyed the Orca and ruptured the utilities beneath the street, causing a chain reaction of explosions. Mei used her blaster to create an ice wall, protecting the civilians, but was left exposed and injured in the resulting blast. Out of options, Winston told Oxton to get Mei out of there, while he held the omnics off, despite Mei's weak protest that Winston had earlier said that they'd stick together.

Mei-ZH2 Mei readies the cryo-bomb

As it turned out, Winston didn't need to sacrifice himself, as other Overwatch members joined the fight. One of them was Angela Ziegler, who healed Mei's injuries, getting her on her feet again. That said, there was still the matter of the Titan. At Winston's suggestion, Mei's backpack (the one which powered her blaster) after some adjustments by Mei was combined with one of Oxton's pulse bombs acting as a time delayed detonator. Oxton was able to get inside the Titan to deliver the improvised explosive, freezing the Titan, which subsequently shattered under its own brittle weight. The battle won, Oxton introduced Mei to the newly arrived Overwatch members. Winston declared that Overwatch had indeed returned.[18]

~ Reinhardt to Tracer and Mei ReinhardtTracerMei The Overwatch operatives before moving out

As it turned out, Paris was the first of numerous locations attacked by Null Sector. One of them was Rio de Janeiro. Alongside Oxton, Reinhardt Wilhelm, and Lúcio, Mei fought her way through the city streets to the omnics' command ship.[19]

Toronto Mei and the rest of Overwatch arrived in Toronto in response to Null Sector's invasion of the city.[20]