Unleashing Sojourn: Overwatch 2's Thrilling Short Story 'Shockwaves' Unveils Heroic Battle for Toronto

In classic Blizzard style, the Overwatch franchise weaves an immersive and captivating narrative spread across various mediums, including comics, videos, and short stories. Both Overwatch and its sequel, Overwatch 2, have primarily relied on these unconventional storytelling avenues to build their lore, until recently when story missions were introduced. The tradition continues with the latest Overwatch 2 short story, "Shockwaves" by Brandon Easton.

"Shockwaves" thrusts readers into the heart of a fierce battle alongside Sojourn as she valiantly defends her hometown, Toronto, against the invading forces of Null Sector. The narrative appears to pick up from the events of her animated short, "Calling," in which the retired captain receives an unexpected visit from Tremblay, a former colleague now working for the government intelligence agency CSIS. Tremblay queries whether Sojourn is the vigilante associated with one of their recent operations. However, before they can delve further into the conversation, Null Sector's ominous presence looms overhead. Quick to don her Overwatch operative attire, Sojourn leaps into action, and Tremblay puts aside her potential arrest to join forces in defending their city.

"Shockwaves" not only showcases Sojourn's formidable combat abilities but also highlights her tactical acumen, honed during her time as a Canadian Army soldier and Overwatch agent. The narrative opens with her resiliently enduring the impact of an explosion, thanks to her cybernetic enhancements. Although her reunion with Tremblay is cut short by the blast, which potentially disrupted their communication, Sojourn has no time to fret. A Null Sector gunner descends into a bustling intersection, prompting the arrival of Canadian army units, emergency responders, and law enforcement to assist her.

Exemplifying true leadership, Sojourn directs light infantry troops to provide covering fire while coordinating energy weapon and heavy artillery units to target the robot's cannons. She delivers the decisive blow, obliterating the bot's central assembly, and then shifts her focus to aiding in the city's evacuation efforts.

The short story format permits a grittier portrayal of the violence accompanying Null Sector's invasion in Overwatch 2, offering vivid descriptions without graphic depictions of gore. Readers are immersed in scenes where Sojourn's allies are tossed into the sky like confetti, their lifeless bodies crashing onto buildings. The once formidable force of over 100 troops dwindles to a mere 20, as Nulltroopers corner and ruthlessly execute civilians en masse.

Sojourn observes the emergence of new, formidable Null Sector troop types from their ships, including a heavily armored tank with a rhino-like horn on its head. These upgraded models wreak havoc, leaving Sojourn lamenting her cybernetically enhanced vision, which only amplifies the tragedy. She rescues two traumatized children who witnessed a café explosion, their parents trapped inside the bombed building.

In these harrowing moments, Sojourn yearns for the presence of her Overwatch comrades, like Winston, but acknowledges that the organization disbanded for valid reasons. Determined, she continues to rescue both humans and omnics, ensuring their safe passage to evacuation ferries departing from Toronto. As the ferry horns signal the city's evacuation, Sojourn finds a moment of relief, but she knows her mission is far from over. Easton concludes the story fittingly, underscoring Sojourn's unwavering commitment to defending her hometown, even if it means being the last one standing in this war.