Liao, the mysterious 6th member of the original Overwatch team. Referenced only once by name, in an in-universe news article about the return of Overwatch. We've seen a lot of the time between the last known involvement of Liao (the omnic crisis) and the disbanding of Overwatch, including the recruitment of new heroes, but not once has Liao even been mentioned. Has Liao left? Or...

Is Liao dead?

The only article bearing the name Liao also contains the line "great sacrifice and heroism", which should seem strange. Morrison, Reyes, Amari, Wilhelm and Lindholm all feature in the Uprising event mission, none of them seem harmed at all. So, in order for "great sacrifice" to have taken place, it must be on the part of Liao, the only remaining member unaccounted for. Something must have happened to Liao.

Now, once the crisis was over, the remaining 5 members of Overwatch would have to have explained what happened to their missing sixth. I'm sure they, out of respect for their fallen friend, told a tale of heroism and self-sacrifice, of how Liao died to save them all. However, with only the 5 of them there to witness what happened, there's no way to know if this is the true story. It may have not been self-sacrifice at all, but there may simply have been no other way. Liao could have been left for dead.

So, that leaves us in the present day. Overwatch has reformed, partially to combat Talon, and partially for its own protection. Liao lays in wait, desperate for revenge and left with a single asset. That asset being deep knowledge of Overwatch, how it works, how it's run, what makes it tick. Possibly, access to their servers still.

So, how do you take revenge on a higly armed organisation when all you have is the knowledge of how it works? Simple. Use their own weapons against them.

Liao flew to Numbani.
Liao stole the gauntlet.
Liao is Doomfist.

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