Arya Azael

> Be the hero. For them.
>
> Arya to Yelena Alton, Chapter 36

**Ari Azael** (born **Arya Azael**), is one of the main protagonists of *0&1.*

Arya is one of the co-founders of the technology company Virtuosity along with Lena Alton. She is the main innovator and publicist of the TeleHeadset and, with Lena, freed the world from the Phantasm.

## Arya Azael

### Occupation

Entrepreneur, Creator of the Phantasm, Co-founder of Virtuosity

## Biography

### Lena's Flashback

#### Virtuosity and the TeleHeadset

> “I am inviting you to a company…our company.”
>
> Arya inviting Yelena Alton to join Virtuosity, Chapter 38

Arya came up with the idea for the [[TeleHeadset]] when she and Yelena Alton lived in a run-down apartment together. Tired of the life they were living she wanted to create a "better world" for herself and Lena. However, Arya knew she lacked experience in the programming field and consulted Lena, who was very knowledgable in the subject and asked her to join her project.

Lena finished the first TeleHeadset in the span of a few weeks, and Arya suggested that they sell in on Ebay. Lena, hesitant, was unsure that selling on such a platform would result in any success with such poor marketing, but to her surprise the product took off immediately. The two of them became insanely wealthy very quickly and became household names, appearing on famous talk shows and news channels.

##### Corruption

After a few months of their fame and evergrowing wealth, Arya became overtaken with greed and began taking shortcuts and committing crimes in order to make things easier for herself, such as paying off the DCA, using methods of transportation that were not environment-friendly, and frequently giving hush money.

She stopped appearing at conferences and instead had Lena go alone. On November 6th, 2046, employees of Virtuosity went on a strike due to Arya cutting their wages to put money towards the TeleHeadset private servers.

Lena immediately confronted Arya in person and accused her of being selfish and that she would make them lose the whole company. Arya was incredulous after hearing this, claiming that she was anything but selfish because she had done everything for Lena. She tried to give Lena a Rolls Royce car as a peace offering, which only angered Lena more. Lena, fed up with Arya and everything that had happened over the past few months, left Virtuosity.

> You don’t change. The world is crashing down on you and you still resort to your stupid habits. You’re self-destructive, Arya. And I wish you would see that, because I care about you so, so much. But I can’t save you now. You’re too deep in. You need to get yourself out.
>
> Yelena Alton to Arya after Arya called her, Chapter 45

Several months after Lena left Virtuosity, Arya was exposed for paying off the DCA and was said to be facing trial and possibly criminal charges. The morning after, Arya called Lena completely unhinged and freaking out about her trial. Lena was unforgiving and provided Arya with no sympathy. This was Arya's final straw and ultimately provoked her to create and implement the The Phantasm.

#### Creation of the Phantasm

Lena, concerned for Arya, went to her mansion and found her setting up the Phantasm. Arya, visibly exhausted, explained to her that the TeleHeadset had placed a chip in all those who owned it (which, at that point, was everyone on the planet) that would permit them to be controlled by the Phantasm.

Arya created the Phantasm to create a world with Lena before everything fell apart, where they could be successful together but still be friends. She gave herself administrative abilities and awareness of the Phantasm. However, because she was never the best programmer, she was unaware that Lena also had administrative abilities because she was the one who created the Headset, which Arya had used to administer the Phantasm. Giving Lena these permissions allowed her to ultimately escape the Phantasm and free others before being captured again, which resulted in the events in the beginning of the novel.

## Relationships

### Yelena Alton

> She was an angel. At least, she could’ve been. But greed itself was greedy, and it took everything it could from a person and more. And it overthrew her.
>
> Yelena Alton about Arya, Chapter 38

It is unknown how long Arya had known Yelena for, but it is likely that they had known each other since childhood. They lived in an apartment together prior to the invention of the TeleHeadset, and treat each other like sisters throughout the novel.

According to Arya, she cared so much about Lena that she created the Phantasm and Virtuosity for her happiness. Everything that Arya had ever done was with Lena's happiness and well-being in mind, and even when she had become overcome with corruption and greed she never stopped caring about Lena. Arya prioritized Lena over herself, as seen when she puts Lena in the escape pod and sacrifices herself when The Core explodes.

## Personality

Before the invention of the TeleHeadset, Arya was a fun, lighthearted person who cared deeply for Yelena. She was very creative but never put her abilities to use before the Headset.

After Lena's Flashback, in the beginning of the book, Arya still maintains her relaxed personality, but is more serious than before the flashback. As the story progresses she gets more grim as the darkness of the events deepen.

## Quotes

> “Everyone wants to save the world. Be that hero. But I find myself chosen by whatever cruel being fate is, and I find…I find that I don’t want to be that hero. It requires too much sacrifice. Pain.”
>
> Arya to Yelena when they reached The Core, Chapter 35