Arnim Zola (Age of Ultron)

**Doctor Arnim Zola** is a major antagonist of the first season of the *What If* series, as a major anti-hero of "What If Ultron Won" and a major antagonist of "What If The Watcher Broke His Oath.

Zola was a HYDRA scientist who uploaded his consciousness into a computer system to his death. Following the decimation of Infinity Ultron in 2015 of the world, he was forced to ally with Black Widow and Hawkeye to take him down and uploaded his consciousness into an arrow. During the Battle for the Multiverse, the arrow was fired by Widow into Infinity Ultron, who was then destroyed and possessed by Zola. He then betrayed the heroes and fought Prince Killmonger for the Infinity Stones until Strange Supreme banished the two of them, alongside himself, to a pocket dimension for all of time.

He is portrayed by Toby Jones like his original version.

## Biography

### Infiltration of SHIELD and Death

Arnim Zola was a scientist for HYDRA who was recruited into infiltrating SHIELD as a part of Operation Paperclip. As he and the other HYDRA agents began building HYDRA from the inside of SHIELD, they initiated the Super Soldier progam. Zola experimented on Bucky Barner, injected him with the serum and replaced his arm with a metal one, turning him into a brainwashed assassin. Zola was diagnosed with terminal disease so he built a computer system, and upon his death, transferred his brain into it.

### Confronting Captain America and Black Widow

One of the databanks with his consciousness was in Camp Lehigh, and the other in Siberia, overwatching the Super Soldier Serum experiments. Zola's old WWII enemy Captain America arrived at Camp Lehigh with SHIELD agent Black Widow where they discovered the consciousness of the dormant villain, who explained how HYDRA had infiltrated SHIELD and still remains in it and about Project Insight, in which HYDRA would use the Helicarriers to eliminate people they deem threats to their rise to power. He then revealed he had been stalling them as STRIKE, a team which contained the secret HYDRA agents, exploded the facility, destroying Zola in the process.

### Decimation of Universe and Joining Heroes

The villain known as Infinity Ultron completely decimated all life in the universe, including on Earth. Zola's consciousness in Siberia managed to remain intact, and was approached by Black Widow and Hawkeye, the sole survivors of Infinity Ultron's rampage. They awoke Zola, informed him of what had happened during his dormant sleep and asked for help but he refused. When Hawkeye threatened to destroy the computer, Zola eventually agreed to help them, secretly plotting to seize power when the time was right. Widow lured Ultron Sentries to the Siberian base while Zola downloaded his consciousness into one of Hawkeye's arrows. Hawkeye shot the arrow into one of the Sentries so he could hack into Infinity Ultron's main system. However, more Ultron Sentries arrived and overwhelmed them; Hawkeye sacrificed himself so Widow and Zola could successfully escape. Zola attempted to hack into Infinity Ultron but failed as the villain was currently in another universe.

### Destroying Infinity Ultron and Imprisonment

When Widow and the Guardians of the Multiverse fought Infinity Ultron, Widow recovered the arrow with Zola in it. As Captain Carter lifted Infinity Ultron's head up, Widow shot the arrow into his eye and Zola infiltrated his system. Infinity Ultron questioned who he was as Zola killed the villain, avenging HYDRA. Prince Killmonger betrayed the Guardians of the Multiverse and took the armour before attempting to take the Infinity Stones, only to be stopped by Zola in the remains of Infinity Ultron's body who wished to have the Infinity Stones for himself. The two clashed for the Infinity Stones but Strange Supreme sacrificed himself by teleporting himself alongside Zola and Killmonger to a pocket dimension which had the remains of Strange's broken universe for all of eternity.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

* **Synthezoid Phsiology/Mind Stone Enhancement**: After downloading himself into Infinity Ultron's body, Zola was granted a wide range of powers.
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: Zola possesses an incredible amount of strength, surpassing the likes of Thor and Hulk.
	+ **Superhuman Durability**: Embedded in a vibranium body, Zola is almost indestructible.
	+ **Superhuman Speed**: Zola can run at incredible speeds.
	+ **Superhuman Agility**: Zola has a high level of superhuman agility.
	+ **Superhuman Stamina**: Zola does not require rest due to the Mind Stone and his vibranium body.
	+ **Superhuman Reflexes**: Zola can easily dodge blows from his enemies.
	+ **Flight**: Zola has the ability to fly in the air at will.
	+ **Telekinesis**: Zola can pull objects to himself at will, as shown when he levitated the Infinity Stones during his clash with Prince Killmonger.
	+ **Synthetic Skin Constructs**: Zola can generate synthetic material at will.
	+ **Exothermic Manipulation**: Zola can heat his body to an incredible temperature.
	+ **Technology Manipulation**: Zola can control and channel himself with technology.
		- **Computer Interaction**: Zola can assume control and corrupt any computer network inside the Internet at any time.

### Abilities

* **Genius-Level Intellect**: Zola has a genius-level intellect, able to transfer his consciousness into a computer system.
* **Master Scientist**: Zola was the greatest scientist of HYDRA.
* **Master Engineer**: Zola designed many weapons for HYDRA personnel.
* **Billingualism**: Zola can fluently speak German and English.