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April, 2024 Nighttime. Claremont Academy usually had relatively peaceful nights. While there were plenty of super-powered kids and some of them were trouble makers, the school as a whole had enough activities that they rarely 'acted out', so to speak; between lessons of schooling and lessons of using powers. There were a few exceptions. One of these was Sam Durado, who had more than a little habit of leaving when she got too frustrated with the school. She was never gone long, but it had been a consistent issue, enough that she was starting to get a bit of a reputation for sneaking out at night and going off on her own- and often missing a few morning classes in the way. What Sam had not been expecting was for Michael to be waiting for her. This had devolved into an angry argument outside the dorm that people were very strenuously trying to avoid, not wanting to get between the two best friends having an argument on the dorm; this wasn't a full on fight, after all, it was just an argument. At least it was, until Sam stomped on Michael's foot and flew off while he was still cursing over the underhanded move. "Sam! Come on!" he yelled at her leaving back. "...You gotta be kidding me." he sighed, looking up into the sky. That is the scene that Mizuki and Vueriz ended up wandering into as Michael ran a hand through his hair and let out another swear. "...Oh...hey you two." he mumbled, offering a small wave.

Early to Mid October, 2024 It had started with a complaint to Parker and Michael while they were helping another student. Thomas- a student at Claremont with limited magnetic manipulation powers- had complained that he had been suddenly accosted by Dr. Metropolis one night while he was off school grounds. He quickly realized it wasn't Dr. Metropolis when the Hero had attacked him, displaying all the usual powers of Dr. Metropolis. But Thomas had escaped before suffering serious harm. A further investigation- and telling the teachers- had revealed more incidents. Not always Claremont students, but always superpowered people, Heroes or not; a member of the Freedom League appearing suddenly and attacking them, then leaving just as quickly. Quickly after, there had been a decision made for Claremont students. No one truly believed that the Freedom League would attack Claremont students or other super-powered individuals with no cause; not just because it was quite easy for some students to simply call their parents or guardians and confirm that-, but if someone was pretending to do it, the students of Claremont needed to be careful. And that was why they mostly now were required to travel with their teams, or with other students, to rely on safety in numbers. Call for help, don't engage if it's a bad idea, all the usual precautions. But for Heroes, and those who wanted to be Heroes, could they really stay on the sidelines when duty called? When people's lives were in danger, could they sit idly by and allow others to risk themselves, or let civilians be hurt? The question was about to be answered in the middle of Freedom City. Vueriz, Parker Powers, Lynn Conners, and Diego D'Angelo had just dropped off some archival books to the Freedom Public Library for storage; older versions of text books and spare yearbooks and copies of the School Newspaper- all stored in the public library archives-. But while they were preparing to head back to Bayview and Claremont, the Freedom Monorail passed above them, and then let out a loud groan. The front car shifted as if it's alignment had been broken. Then the second car jackknifed, bouncing violently up and down and then swinging left and right. Each car after swung even more violently, then as the fourth car hit the problem spot in the rail, the entire rail snapped; the three cars in front continued careening forward wildly, even as sparks flew from them with the emergency brake activated. Meanwhile, the fourth car was falling straight down, heading towards a congested intersection of cars and people, who were screaming as it fell towards them. Meanwhile, the metal bars and gears of the destroyed monorail line was also falling towards other people, threatening to crush them under the mass of metal. And above that, on the destroyed monorail line, bolts of lightning were striking nearby buildings as a blur of black and green sped across the shiny faces of the large buildings of Freedom's City Center, avoiding the bolts that were blowing out windows and twisting metal in the buildings.

Sunday February 18, 2024 Late afternoon After over a day and a half of fun in the water and sun at the Harrow estate on Wakaya Island, Fiji (in addition to some more serious topics), it was unfortunately time for the Claremont Academy students to return back to Freedom City for the start of the next school week. After about an hour or so of chaos, everyone was eventually gathered back on the large deck at the back of the main house for Lawrence Harrow to teleport them all back to campus. As the group of teens stepped into the temporal portal Lawrence created once again, they initially felt a similar sensation to what they had the day before when transported to the South Pacific. But suddenly, rather than stepping out the other side of the portal back at the Main Quad at Claremont, the teens felt as if something tugged on them, causing each to stumble forward and as the world reformed around them and they were not at Claremont Academy. Lawrence Harrow, Parker Powers, Mizuki Iwasaki, Baltazar Botez, Consuelo Nunez, Ryan Jacobs, Vueriz, and Michael Adon all found themselves in a dead end alleyway between a pair of three story buildings. Out past the open end, they could see and hear a large crowd of people gathered, though none seemed to notice the sudden appearance of the teens. The weather was cool, but much warmer than the February cold they had expected. The teens were still in the clothes they had been wearing, and Vueriz had her skyboard, but all the rest of their bags and other things were nowhere to be seen. Wearing a pair of jeans and a red Arsenal hoody, Lawrence looked about the alleyway, a concerned expression on his face before he seemed to focus on something distant and out of view. "This is not right." He simply stated, a hint of concern evident in his refined British accent.

Rita Kord Dormitories, Fourth Floor Claremont Academy, Freedom City, New Jersey Saturday, September 7, 2024 It was almost the start of a new school year at Claremont Academy! Of course, that meant that the weekend before the start of classes was for students (both old and new) to move into the dorms. As might be expected, that meant the campus was rather abuzz with activity, as students and their families descended on the two dormitories. Thankfully, the mostly cloudy sky ensured that the weather was warm and pleasant for the move in. Up on the fourth floor of the Rita Kord dormitory, Juniors Mizuki Iwasaki and Vueriz were two of the older students that had been asked to assist new students and their parents with getting to their rooms or answering other questions they might have….

GM The Painted Desert, Arizona March 3rd, 2024 10:00 AM The Painted Desert survival class has been going on for years at Claremont at this point. Rumors have started to spread by now. Most of the time, the chosen students get to spend some time in the Painted Desert, learning how to survive in a hostile environment, seeing some pretty sights. Then there are, of course, the survival classes that go awry. The ones that end up going into a strange mesa that takes them on time travel adventures as they go through the paths. Sure, it sounds outlandish, and after the first or even second trip, it could have been anything, but after the third trip? Well, there is obviously something out in the Painted Desert. The last few years have been calm, at least. Just a normal survival class, nothing happening. Nobody ending up in any mesas or other time periods. Whatever weirdness happens in the Painted Desert is obviously over by now, right? It should just be a regular survival class. Right? That's what the young would be heroes Baltazar Botez, Carmen Alvarez Arrache, Bernadette O’Connell and Vueriz would perhaps think, at least, as the van that has taken them from the airport stops in front of a small house in the middle of nowhere and opens. They have been told where they would go and what they would have to go through. The heat during the day, the massive drops in temperature during the night, having to navigate and survive without using their powers, at least to the extent that they can. A woman with black hair tied into a long braid sits by the house, with a massive backpack sitting next to her. She is wearing a wide brimmed dark grey cowboy hat and tan shorts and t-shirt. "Hey guys, I'm Alexandra Macedon. Welcome to the Painted Desert."

HellQ Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. The amazing Blue Bolt, alien gadgeteer from another galaxy! Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? The police call me ‘Not you again’. What is your full birth name? Vueriz Where do you live? Freedom City, on the planet Earth. How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? I am seventeen Earth years old. I have calculated that I was born somewhere between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth of August. On Zirtimzar I would be approaching eighteen percent of a year old. Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. I'm a girl, duh. How would you describe your heritage? I'm from Zirtimzar, but any of the orbitals or the other bodies. Most of my family are from the southern hemisphere. How tall are you? I’m three feet eleven inches. What is your body type? I believe the human term is ‘pear shape’, I am quite well developed for my age, although apparently my height and lack of fleshy chest parts makes me look younger to humans. Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? I can't breathe oxygen, which counts I think. Also Earth is a lot hotter than Zirtimzar, so I overheat much more easily. How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? I am the picture of grace, and the next time someone says I ‘scamper’ I'll build a portal around their door to send them back in time five minutes. Describe your skin, eye, and hair colour. By my people's standards I am relatively tan, although the G star Earth orbits is doing interesting things to my colouration. My skin is aquamarine, and my eyes are a similar blue to your sky. My hair is white with similar blue streaks. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? It generally stands up on its own in what I'm told is about halfway between a ‘bedhead’ and ‘going super saiyan’. I do brush it down on formal occasions that I care about, and it's getting long enough that it'll stop being quite so spiky. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? I uh, yeah I guess I'm pretty. I doubt anyone around me thinks that though. I'm an alien, it's not allowed. Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? Ooh, you're right I should get a tattoo! And some piercings! Do my spots count as birthmarks? Do you resemble anyone famous? In my home galaxy I apparently looked a bit like a famous naval pilot. Don't look like anyone in Earth though. Do you have a dominant hand? I am right-handed. What kind of clothing do you wear? I like leather, and denim, and torn stuff. Spikes are cool too. And combat boots. Ooh, maybe I should wear more crop tops. I do need to make sure that whatever I wear isn't too hot, like physically too hot. I'll overheat. Do you wear makeup? Yes. Sometimes. When I feel like it. Who's asking? What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? My voice is about average pitch, maybe a bit higher? Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people? My tail and ears move in response to my emotions. It can be a little annoying if I'm trying to do anything with my tail. No one's commented on it though. History Where do you come from? The planet Zirtimzar in a distant galaxy! Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? I have traveled the great void between galaxies to grace humanity with my presence, hahaha! Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? I am a rebel against the status quo! I would never profess loyalty to The Man! How do you feel about the place you come from? It was home y'know, kept my stuff there. I uh, miss my family though. Where is your home town? What was/is it like? I am from Terezan, largest city in the southern hemisphere of Zirtimzar. Makes the biggest cities here look small. Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? Zirtimzara are the majority on Zirtimzar, it's our home planet and most of us don't leave. The galactic government has pretty strenuous Immigration laws since the infrastructure for multispecies habitation is expensive. Meant my life was pretty normal. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? I have always excelled academically, left my peers behind quickly in the Sciences and Mathematics. Really good with tech too. Lots of expectations, ‘making sure Vueriz is fulfilling her potential’, ‘see great things in her future’ ‘a credit to her people’ that sort of thing. And if course without my tech I wouldn't be here, I'd be uh. Yeah. Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? Oh yes, terrible! Why before I was even a year old a terrible accident sent me to another galaxy filled with bizarre aliens with super powers! And that's not even the worst part! Immediately upon meeting them I bore witness to a horror never meant for mortal minds! Oh it almost hurts too much to say! But I must! Horror of horrors, but I found that in this cruel new galaxy, I was short! That pretty much sums it up. Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. It was when I was about a tenth of a year old, so… nine point four Earth years? I snuck aboard a scientific vessel that was bound for a nearby star, about fifty parsecs away from Zirtimzar. I later found out that the ship was contracted to the navy, but that's not important right now. I was curious about what they were doing. I had hacked the computer systems to identify me as one of the researchers, so I was going over the data involved. The Star was about to die, go supernova. It was pretty young and light, so it must've been unstable or something. I, of course, wanted to see it, so I went to the observation deck when it was just about to start, and it was beautiful. The wave of particles straining against the ships shielding, the light across all spectrums as whole new elements were forged. It was what inspired my gadgets, and really solidified my scientific interests. It isn't exaggeration to say that my life was never the same again. What stupid things did you do when you were younger? Well, immediately after the star's detonation, one of the scientists who was working on the ship who was using the observation deck at the time called security on me, being a random child on his ship. I should have gotten in a lot of trouble for that. As much as I don't regret it, that whole trip was pretty dumb. Could have gotten in trouble to just go study a rock in deep space. Where did you go to school? How much schooling did you have, and did you enjoy it? Well, I'm going to Claremont now, but back in my home galaxy I was mostly the victim of one on one tutoring. Pretty early on in more general schooling the teacher AI flagged me as rapidly surpassing my peers, and found that moving me on to more advanced classes wasn't really slowing that. So some big shot in the education branch decided that “A talent like mine was wasted in the general class system” and switched me to a private tutoring AI. Do you have any mementoes from your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I have my skyboard, which I've had for about… four Earth years? Upgraded pretty thoroughly by yours truly of course. Most of my other stuff will probably still be on Zirtimzar. When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? Being a cool rebel hero is my calling! I've wanted to be one since I was maybe… eight Earth years old. It was my decision and besides, it's really cool! Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? Not really. Like, I also like helping people and stuff, but that's kinda lame to talk about. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? I have a pretty extensive criminal record in my home galaxy, coz I'm a punk hero you know? Kinda doubt it'll come back to haunt me though, long way from home and all that. Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? Nah, this is who I am! Authentic me. If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets? It's not really a secret, I just… haven't mentioned it, right? The others don't really need to know about that and so I'm not gonna tell em. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? Oh, I think I already answered this one. Ugh on Earth some of the cops have mentioned that I'm disturbing the peace and called me a delinquent, but nothings come of it yet. Family What are your biological parents' names? My mum's name is Vysalla, never knew my dad, and mum never told me his name. Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. My mum raised me. My older brother helped, not that I'd admit it to his face. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? My mother had a job as a scientist in a propulsion lab. Her work was important enough for her to be well paid and respected, but not enough for her to be like, famous or anything. My brother was always a bit of a golden child, the square. He was looking at joining up with an Expeditionary Fleet going to explore a nearby galaxy. Probably halfway there by now. Where are your parents now? My mum is probably still on Zirtimzar. Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? We stayed in the same city for my whole life, although we moved to a bigger apartment once. My mum would go on trips for work, and took me on a couple. How did you get along with your parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). My mum wanted me to be a scientist like her, be a big shot, probably end up in an important government position. I didn't want that, caused a lot of friction. I… I know she wanted the best for me, but that didn't line up with what I wanted. I miss her but obviously I can't exactly send her a message or anything. How do your parents view you now, or how would they? She'd definitely get a kick out of me going to a school for super cops. Probably be horrified if I told her about some of the things that’ve happened. Ask if there's a future for a career in ‘superheroing’. That sort of thing. Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. My brother Zurangar, he's a bit of a stick in the mud. Doesn't like me being cool, gets worried and stays up if I'm out late. That sort of thing. What was your birth order in the family? Zurangar is older by about seven Earth years. Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? He was looking at joining an exploratory fleet to a galaxy in our local cluster, Lenzovargan. Wanted to ‘contribute to our society on my terms’. ‘s kinda cool, living on the frontier, exploring alien worlds and such. Guess we're kinda doing similar things, but mine’s cooler, superheroes and doing it all on my own and all. Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? It's kinda hard to keep in contact when I don't even know where my home galaxy is, let alone the location of his fleet in Lenzovargan. Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? They were both good at getting on my nerves and cramping my style… I do miss them though. Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? Not really, we'd all butt heads pretty often but I wouldn't call them my rivals. Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. Well that would be me! One doesn't get to be a cool rebel without stepping on some toes. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. My great grandfather (on my mother's side of course) was Zirtimzar’s representative to the presiding council. Just added to all the stupid expectations. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. Nope and nope. If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? I do, but it doesn't matter. I'm stranded away from the rest of my species and probably will be for the rest of my life. What type of person would be your ideal mate? Strong, attractive, not afraid to stick it to The Man, smart enough that I don't talk circles around them. Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. I get along pretty well with my classmates I think. Michael's a goody two shoes but is just too nice to dislike. Lawrence is pretty cool and time powers are fun. Parker is nice, really freaking strong. Baz's really funny, and his powers are so pretty. I really like the way he glows. I like Mizuki and Bernie too, they're fun to hang out with. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? I don’t think so? I'm not one to pick favorites. If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? My classmates definitely. Psuedo would probably be worried, given he's my legal guardian, and the government would probably be concerned that someone had kidnapped me to build stuff for them. Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? Nah. No lost loves on Zirtimzar or anything. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. Only the tyranny of the Government! They have tried to silence me and I have escaped their grasp many a time! If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? Well, the Presiding Council in my home galaxy can't really do anything, being, y'know, however far away. Earth’s police can try to arrest me I suppose, but I shall never submit to reeducation! What is the worst thing someone has done to you? Well, tried to catch me for reeducation. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? My friends. The people. In that order. Who or what do you trust the most? Why? My friends. They are good people who I've fought beside to save others and each other. Who or what do you despise? Why? I don't really despise any individuals, other than that guy that tried to kidnap Lawrence. That guy sucked. What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? Obviously powers are really cool, but probably the most impressive thing about my friends is how they never seem to hesitate. As soon ans danger rears its head they're ready. I wish I could do that. I'm always terrified. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Being willing to stamp others down for your own gain. I'm glad I'm not like that. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? Eh, kinda hard to maintain a secret identity when you're the only alien in the crowd. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? I do pretty well at the team stuff. Michael's better at the whole ‘leader’ deal but I come up with good ideas! Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? I am on a Claremont team, if that counts. No established team stuff outside of school though. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? Nah. Maybe I should join a club. Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? Psuedo is really cool. Otherwise I'd have to say my classmates. Don't tell then I said that. Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? No fallen heroes or idols here. Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? Yeah, it's awesome. Go out, fight the bad guys, look cool doing it. What's not to like? Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? Obviously as a rebel against the system I ride the edge between what The Man would call a hero and a villain. If I was declared a villain or whatever I wouldn't stop helping people, but I'm not just gonna give up and stop being me. What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? Well, obviously continue at Claremont and helping my friends. Hopefully I'll be able to locate my home galaxy by then. I'd like to work more on my tech, and hopefully finalize my spaceship designs. What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? Be a hero. Build my spaceship, be a big shot and all that. What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? … Reeducation and stuff like it. Like what the Communion did to the Star Khan. I can't stand the idea of someone tinkering with my mind. I uh. I ran when they were coming for me on Zirtimzar. With the Communion it- *expletive* I wanted to run so bad, but I just couldn't for some reason, I fought. Proud of that. Is there anything you would give you life for? Obviously for freedom! It is better to die free than live in chains! How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it a mark of success, or a means to an end? Eh, money's nice, pays for my gadgets and stuff but it's just another tool of The Man to control people. How do you generally treat others? I treat people with the respect they deserve. How much they deserve depends on the person. Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? Unless I have a reason not to trust someone or what they're saying contradicts what I know of the world I'd say I'm generally trusting. Not like, ‘hop in a random guy's car’ trusting, but like, I'm not gonna assume the worst. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? I'm an extrovert, generally pretty friendly and all. I've got the exact right amount of self-confidence. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? Well on Zirtimzar I didn't have many peers my own age, but I'd probably be pretty nervous. What are your most annoying habits? I like tinkering with things, and taking things apart to look at how they work. Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? I think we've covered my opinions of the police and government pretty thoroughly. What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? I really like burgers. Especially the really greasy meaty ones. I have to eat pretty quickly, since I need to take off my mask for every bite, but given the interruptions to breathe I think it averages out. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? I haven't tried alcohol yet, since I'm not 100% certain how it'll interact with my system. I like soft drinks. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? I like liquorice, the really chewy ones. Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? Celery. If I wanted to consume a mix of dihydrogen monoxide and hair I'd just try chewing on one of my classmates during Mizuki's swimming lessons. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? I like wisteria. It's pretty. What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? I like punk rock and metal and electronic stuff with a heavy bass. If it's got heavy beats and shouting it's right up my alley. Not a fan of the rap with the mumbling. Drives my Universal Translator crazy in a bad way. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? The smell right after a particle beam passes through the air. Don't quite know what that would smell like on Earth, not being able to breathe the air and all. Do you have a favorite animal? I get a feeling like Neko and Carmen will hunt me down if I don't say ‘cat’. I'm developing a soft spot for roaches though. What is your most treasured possession? Why? I have a new invention I'm really proud of. I had to cannibalize what's left of the Meson Driver for it, and it's inspired by one of my friends. Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? I am a creature of comforts, although I've been getting used to the heat of Earth. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? I will not pull over when requested. Or turn down ‘that damn noise’. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life? How important is it to you? Everyone knows gods and spirits don't exist. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? It's just common knowledge. Magic and mystical creatures you hear about in stories are just that: Stories. If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization? I don't worship any gods. Could you kill? Have you killed? Uh. What? No, of course haven't killed anyone! And no I couldn't. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? Killing people is wrong, it's not exactly hard to understand and it doesn't really go any deeper than that. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? No. How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours? I- uh, I'd try to stop them. If it was one of my friends I'd try to talk them down? How would you react if something important was stolen from you? I would probably ask my friends for help getting it back, especially if it was a piece of tech. How would you react to public humiliation? Egh, I would be mad. Probably try get them back, wouldn't really admit it though. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? Oh expletive, I'd try to put things right? If there was anyone at fault for the accident I'd make sure things were safer in the future and the person responsible is punished? On purpose would be pretty much the same, but I'd be a bit less gentle. I'd be pretty scared, since I don't have powers like my friends so whoever did it has to be able to take down like, an actual superhero. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? Reeducation. Or murder. Essentially anything that makes a person… not that person anymore. If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? Uh, five things? Okay, I'd make sure to let everyone know… then probably party the rest of my time? Try alcohol since worrying about how it'd affect my body is moot there, give my gadgets to my friends, play lots of loud music, probably wrap up my time doing something really cool? Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? Special training, no. Applicable skills, yes. I'm a really good pilot, and obviously a tech genius inventor. My pilot practice was a mixture of controlling my skyboard and simulator training and some… Minor theft of air and spacecraft. Tech stuff was base education plus general curiosity. Taking things apart and stuff. Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? I'm mostly self taught, although the book learning side was of course schooling and then my tutor. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? I can play drums, and have some practice getting out of bindings, one is just an interest which I've casually pursued. The other was born out of an idea that I could escape cuffs and such. Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? I go to school. I'm the future I'm planning on using my tech to make a living on the side. I can't really seperate my superhero and normal lives since I'm an alien. What is your preferred combat style? I zip around all cool like with my skyboard, zapping baddies with my guns and grenades haha! Have you ever received any awards or honours? My school and tutors liked to award excellent work. A bribe for being a ‘good student’. I got several for my academics. What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I really wish I had powers like my friends. Without my gadgets it's like ‘Oh no, here comes Vueriz, careful she can punch you really gently’. Otherwise I'd just like to keep practicing what I enjoy and am good at. How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? I try getting them to show me their skills or work and see what I can figure out from there. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? I generally wake up to my second alarm. Rush to get ready for class so that Michael doesn't lecture me about the importance of education again. Go to class, pretend to pay attention, hang out with my friends. After class I tend to work on my tech, hang out with my friends and sneak off campus to party or do hero stuff, no particular order there. Generally interruptions to my routine mean no class so that's great. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? I like working on my tech, listening to music, hanging out with people. Occasionally I'll do some drumming. That sort of thing. Didn't really ‘pick them up’, just do them. What do you do for fun? I… just said? Why would I practice hobbies that I don't find fun? Do you have a costume? What does it look like? I wear a low cut pale wisteria shirt, purple jeans, a leather jacket, black gloves, boots and knee pads and my utility belt. How do you normally dress when not in costume? Punk! Torn clothes, denim and leather and stuff. What do you wear to bed most nights? Uh- well… I just wear a pair of underwear. If I wasn't dorming I probably wouldn't wear anything, it's hot on Earth. Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? I don’t have any jewelry. Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? In my dorm or on me. What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? I like to fly around with my skyboard. Long distance it can get a little uncomfortable, but other than that it's just been Lawrence's portals. Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? I don't plan on dying any time soon. ‘Sides, I'd just give it all to my friends anyway. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? Ignoring dental records, skeletal differences and my stature? A simple chemical test would do it. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? As a cool rebel hero who was never afraid to stand up to The Man! Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? Nah. I'm a hero, and wouldn't do anything to put the public at risk. What do you perceive as your greatest strength? My genius that allows me to create wondrous inventions! What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? I can be a bit of a coward, and I don't actually have powers. As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice… You are not a coward for running away from your home, you are brave for staying to protect your friends and strangers. You need to slow down and learn about the world you have come to, you'll be surprised at the things you have assumed that aren't true here. The world is full of dangers, but so too is it full of wonders.

OOC for this. @Thevshi, @Supercape, @MoonSimply, @Kaede Kimura

GM It was just that time of the week in Claremont Academy. A routine check in with some of the students. The faculty has decided to test a few of the younger heroes. As such Baz, Vueriz and Michael would be called and led to the basements under the Academy, to the Doom Room. A large facility with a hexagonal floor, white and grey walls and a high ceiling. Above them was the observation room. A figure could be seen from within, the supervisor for today’s session. “Greetings students.” The man spoke up through the intercom. “We are here to evaluate your abilities. Some of your fellow students have volunteered to help you with this. Please use your abilities as you see fit.” Should any of them look to the far end of the room, they could notice a platform that had risen up fifty feet above them. On that platform they could see the familiar figures of Daniel and Iris, tied up together there, they seemed to be tied with chains that had three locks on it. “HEY GUYS!” Daniel called out while Iris just rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath. The students could also see that there were three platforms rising up at different levels, they were all quite large, stretching from one end of the Doom Room to the other. Each platform had platform would have different environments simulated on them. The first and closest to the ground, had a forest theme to it. Trees, rocks and boulders could be seen on it. The next platform up seemed to have a city simulated on it. Or at least an urban area, small houses could be seen on it. Finally, the top seemed to look like the interior of a space ship. The supervisor would speak. “The object of this exercise is to rescue your fellow students. Each platform you see with spawn an enemy of a specific type. There are also three keys, one on each. You must find the keys to free them. Please take some time to prepare. You start in five minutes.” ( @Kaede Kimura @Supercape @Poncho )

Claremont Academy Bayview, Freedom City, New Jersey Wednesday January 3, 2024, 8:10 AM With the start of the second half of the school year, Headmistress Summers had called an assembly for the student body to start the first day back in classes. Once all the students had gathered in the auditorium, the headmistress made her way out onto the stage. She was accompanied by a most unusual individual, a short figure, under four feet tall, with aquamarine blue skin and a long prehensile tail. The figure appeared to be female, and was wearing some sort of breathing mask and dressed in punk style clothing and combat boots. Directing the figure to a spot close to the podium, the Headmistress stepped up behind the podium and began to speak. "Good morning everyone, welcome back. I trust everyone had an enjoyable and safe holidays and New Year's. Before we start classes this morning, I wanted to make a short announcement to introduce everyone to a recent addition to our student body." The Headmistress indicated the small figure that was standing nearby. "Vueriz is a recent arrival, not only to our city, but our planet and galaxy. Many of you likely heard on the news about a recent crash landing near Freedom City, that was Vueriz's arrival. After some debriefing by the Freedom League and AEGIS, she has been remitted to the school's custody. I trust each and every one of you will do all you can to make her feel welcome and help her adjust to her new surroundings and learn about not only our city, but our world." "Now, classes begin in half an hour, so you have some free time until the, but I expect everyone to be on time. Will the members of the sophomore class I spoke with early this morning please gather in the antechamber to meet with Vueriz and help ensure she makes it to her first class. For the rest of you, there will be ample opportunity throughout the day to introduce yourselves." "Dismissed."

Using my open Veteran slot Blue Bolt Power Level: 10 (150/167PP) built as PL8 Unspent Power Points: 17pp Trade-Offs: +1 Defense/-1 Toughness In Brief: Young alien supergenius, stranded on Earth after fleeing her home galaxy Theme: I Like It Heavy - Halestorm Rock of Ages - DJ Schmolli Alternate Identity: Vueriz (Public) Birthplace: Planet Zirtimzar in the Varagos System, Unknown Galaxy (To Humans) Residence: Claremont Academy. Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont. Family: Vysalla (Mother), Zurangar (Long-Suffering Elder Brother) Description: Age: 16 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Alien (Zirtimzara) Height: 3’11 Weight: 236 lbs Eyes: Blue Hair: Blue and White Vueriz is very obviously an alien, with aquamarine blue skin speckled with spots that light up slightly in the sun to the human eye (They fluoresce under UV light), large fuzzy ears and a long (relative to her) prehensile tail. She has a pear shaped figure, lacking a human's mammary glands but still possessing wide hips, and when her mouth is exposed she has very pointed teeth. She is very short by human standards, standing just shy of four feet tall, but her fluorocarbon based anatomy gives her a surprising level of weight despite her diminutive stature. Ever present on her face is her breathing mask, so that she can survive Earth’s atmosphere, into which she has jury-rigged her Universal Translator. She dresses in punk style, tank tops, combat boots, jeans and spikey bits all making frequent appearances in her outfits, although jackets are not a common accessory as she overheats in Earth’s climate. One thing people will notice is that often she will wear incongruous (and frequently unstylish) red clothes. When she goes out to do heroics she has a specific look however, a low cut pale wisteria shirt, purple jeans, a leather (slightly climate controlled) jacket and red gloves, boots and knee pads (She thinks they’re black.) Around her waist goes a utility belt with her many gadgets magnetised on, and some tech has been attached to her gloves so that she can remote control her board. History: Vueriz is from a distant galaxy, kept relatively peaceful by a ruling committee focused on the perpetuation of logic and reason. This bored her to no end. No more great frontiers to explore, no grand evil empires to fight and certainly no haring off on wild adventures with only a gun at your hip and song in your soul. What’s a self-respecting (and self-proclaimed) rebel supposed to do in the face of all this rubbish? Well Vueriz’ answer was to violate superluminal speed limits across three sectors and get noise complaints from everyone within several kilometres of her at any given time (Not to mention the several counts of graffiti and illegal tampering with proprietary technology) and generally disturb the peace the good public servants tried to uphold. This is of course how she discovered that the law is not described as having a long arm for no reason, and that the squeaky clean government was mostly PR. She was scheduled for reeducation for her (admittedly quite extensive, if (mostly) minor) crimes. Working frantically, she kludged together some enhancements for her (illegal) skyboard, and proceeded to briefly become the fastest moving thing in her entire galaxy. Within moments her jury-rigged upgrade was failing, spreading itself across multiple light years of space, but even without it she was still locked inside of a pocket of space which rendered her speed nearly infinite, and would have been stuck in it potentially forever, but as luck would have it, her course set her very close to a large gas giant in an unknown (to her) galaxy, the gravity of the planet she would later learn was known as Jupiter disturbed the bubble of space resulting in it failing, ejecting her to the Earth, where she crash landed near Freedom City. From there, it was a surprisingly short process for her to be filed in as a minor from an unknown alien species and packaged off to Claremont. You’d think these humans dealt with alien teens a lot or something. Personality & Motivation: Vueriz is loud (some would say obnoxious), energetic and cheerful at the opportunity to explore a whole new galaxy of aliens and superheroes, going on adventures and fighting bad guys. If asked she’d admit that she misses her family, but she’s here now so dwelling on it isn’t something she cares to do. She likes her life like she likes her tech, fast, bright and loud, and as much of all of those as possible. It should be no surprise that she was drawn like a moth to a flame to punk, rock, metal and electronic music. She brings this energy to her heroics as well, bad guys can’t seem so scary when the (dashing and super cool, she swears) heroine is still rocking out and having a good time while they’re monologuing. If pressed on why she’s doing it, her surface level answer would just be about how cool it is to be a hero, but deep down she has a burning desire for freedom not just for herself, but for everyone. Now if only she could stop getting noise complaints. Powers & Tactics: Vueriz’ anatomy is naturally superhuman, featuring an incredible resistance to radiation and cold from the natural circumstances of her home world as well as basic toughness from the fluorocarbons that make up her skin and bones.She also has the ability to see higher light bands than humans, able to see UV light and visually detect Radiation from even higher in the electromagnetic spectrum, although she cannot see by X-Rays or Gamma Rays. She also possesses an incredibly powerful brain, already comparable to many of Earth’s greatest super-computers and genius heroes. Unfortunately for her, despite her impressive mental abilities, Blue Bolt doesn’t naturally tend to think things through when it comes to fighting, not having much actual practice doing so, mostly focusing on dodging and shooting when actually forced into an even confrontation. If allowed to dictate the pace of a fight she can however prove quite devious, able to set traps and line up trick shots with her grenades. The majority of her flashier pieces of tech use particle acceleration tech to operate, creating quite spectacular light shows. Her most impressive piece of technology is her skyboard, laced through with tubes carrying high velocity particles. These are both her means of transportation and her primary method of direct attack, ejecting particles to maneuver, firing them at the bad guy, or creating a beam through an electromagnetic tunnel across the front of the crescent shape to create a particle beam blade to attack as she flies past. The particle cannon can be reconfigured on the fly to draw more particles and power, becoming nothing more than a large gun platform at full power. She also uses its many powerful magnets to lock her in place upon it and lift cargo. Upon her utility belt currently hang four items; First is her Meson Driver, a pistol that functions by launching Mesons at relativistic velocities. By scanning the exact distance to the target (Or the wall behind the target if her aim is off) the Meson driver precisely calculates the velocity its unstable projectiles must travel to reach just inside the surface before they decay, releasing the energy into the surface structure, weakening it. It is very slow to fire due to this however, as the internal computer must recalculate constantly, lest the projectile detonate too soon, or too late and cause a great deal more harm than Vueriz intends. Her Aurora Roarer spins in place like a firework, launching charged particles in every direction, creating a localised aurora, fizzing and whistling about her targets, the lightshow overwhelming their senses, blinding them temporarily. The Nervebuzzer ejects vast quantities of electrons at every target within its range, creating large unequal charges throughout their bodies which then equalises with the ground, shocking them all over. The Infrasound Concert by contrast is very simple, it’s a very powerful infrasound emitter, vibrating the internals of those too close, disrupting them. Each of them possesses only a limited amount of power however, only good for five uses before needing recharging (And replacement wires) Finally her mask and gloves are significantly less impressive. The mask is primarily designed to keep the atmosphere of planets she finds herself upon from poisoning her, containing a gas recycler for its internal gas stores, although it also contains an atmospheric testing device, and plays host to her Universal Translator after she combined the two pieces of technology. The gloves are even simpler, they allow Vueriz to remote control her Skyboard when it is close enough, a holographic display appearing over her hands for her to control its internal computers through. Complications: What did you say?: Vueriz’ Universal Translator is almost the genuine article, but suffers from reliability issues, mistranslations and grammatical errors plague it, and sometimes it ceases entirely. The GM can rule that the Universal Translator has run into an error, giving her incorrect info or completely failing, preventing Blue Bolt from speaking with her allies. Which is the red wire!?: Zirtimzara cannot see the red spectrum, seeing red coloured objects as black instead. This can cause problems as red is a very common marker colour on Earth. So red warning labels simply look like black stickers, and a room lit with emergency lighting is just dark to her. The GM can rule the Vueriz misses something or is struggling to see due to the red colouration or red light. Crap! Gimme back my belt!: As Blue Bolt, Vueriz has a utility belt which she stores her Meson Launcher and Bombs on, if she loses it she might be in a bit of a bind. If circumstances result in her utility belt being inaccessible, Blue Bolt cannot switch her Gun & Grenades array. What? Never seen an Alien before?: Vueriz is an alien, obviously so, and can’t blend in with a crowd, as a result Vueriz has no secret identity. This can cause problems in her personal life as people can both recognize her as an extraterrestrial and (after she’s made a name for herself as Blue Bolt) a superhero. Bigots, groupies and villains can all make Vueriz' civilian life difficult. There’s no tap water for me to extract air from here!: Vueriz’ mask may be able to sustain itself for significant amounts of time by recycling the Fluorine she breathes, but it’s not 100% efficient. If a mission takes a while, she may have to delay to find a source. The GM may rule that her mask is running low on Fluorine, requiring her to stop her current activity to replenish it. Alien ‘rebel’: Vueriz is not known for being good at following rules about keeping the peace, and frequently irritates figures of authority, resulting in a reputation already forming around her. Police and other authority figures may recognize Vueriz, and be unhelpful given her tendency to thumb her nose at them. The GM may worsen their attitudes towards her by one. Abilities: 0 + 4 + 4 + 26 + -2 + 2 = 34PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 36 (+13) Wisdom: 8 (-1) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 8 + 6 = 14PP Initiative: +13 (+13 Intelligence [Speed of Thought) Attack: +12 Particle Blades (Base 4, Accurate 4), +4 Melee (Base 4), +4 to +6/+8 Particle Cannon (Base 4, Attack Focus [Ranged] +2 to +4), +6/+8 Ranged (Base 4, Attack Focus [Ranged] +2 to +4) Defense: +9 (+3 Base, +6 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Grapple: +4 (+4 Melee Attack) Knockback: -6/-3 Saving Throws: 2 + 6 + 1 = 9PP Toughness: +7 (+2 Con, +5 Protection) Fortitude: +4 (+2 Con, +2) Reflex: +8 (+2 Dex, +6) Will: +0 (-1 Wis, +1) Skills: 104R = 26PP (1PP = 4 Skill ranks) Acrobatics 8 (+10)Skill Mastery Bluff 4 (+5) Y Computers 6 (+19) Craft (Electrical) 13 (+26) Craft (Mechanical) 13 (+26)Skill Mastery Craft (Chemical) 8 (+21) Disable Device 8 (+21) Escape Artist 5 (+7)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 5 (+18) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 3 (+16) Knowledge (Technology) 13 (+26) Knowledge (Popular Culture) 2 (+15) Language 0 (Zirtimzaran [Native]) Perform (Percussion Instruments) 3 (+4) Pilot 13 (+15)Skill Mastery Feats: 14PP Luck 2 Attack Focus (Ranged) 2 Dodge Focus 6 Eidetic Memory Inventor 1 Move-by-Action 1 Skill Mastery 1 (Acrobatics, Craft [Mechanical], Escape Artist, Pilot) Powers: 4 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 6 + 17 + 16 + 4 + 1 + 4 = 61PP Super Senses 3 (Radiation Vision; Descriptor Frequency: Common; Sense Type: Visual; Default: Accurate, Acute, Ranged; Extras: Ultravision; Feats: Innate) [4PP] (Biology, Alien, Light, UV, Radiation) Protection 5 (Alien Body; Drawbacks: Noticeable) [4PP] (Biology, Alien) Additional Limbs 1 (Tail; Feats: Innate) [2PP] (Biology, Alien) Quickness 4 (Feats: Innate, Speed of Thought; Flaws: One Type [Mental]) [4PP] (Biology, Alien) Immunity 2 (Environmental Radiation and Cold; Feats: Innate) [3PP] (Biology, Alien, Radiation) Immunity 10 (Radiation Descriptor; Feats: Innate; Flaws: Limited) [6PP] (Biology, Alien, Radiation) Device 5.6 (Skyboard; 28PP Container; Flaws: Easy-to-Lose) [17PP] (Tech, Magnetism, Radiation) Enhanced Feat 2 (Computer Assist; Attack Focus [Ranged] 2, Evasion 1) [3PP] (Computer) Particle Accelerator Array 12 (24PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 1) [25PP] Base Power: [5 + 3 + 2 + 14 = 24PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Atomic Particles) Flight 6 (Flaws: Platform; Drawbacks: Doesn't Work Underwater) [5PP] Immovable 3 (Stability Assist [3PP] (Computer) Move Object 2 (Maglock; Flaws: Range [Touch]) [2PP] Damage 4 (Particle Blades; Extras: Targeted Area [Trail]; Feats: Accurate 4, Improved Critical 2) [14PP] Alternate Power: [20 + 1 + 3 = 24PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Subatomic Particles) Damage 8 (Particle Cannon; Extras: Ranged; Feats: Accurate Attack, Power Attack, Precise, Split Attack) [20PP] Flight 1 (Flaws: Platform; Drawbacks: Doesn't Work Underwater) [1PP] Immovable 3 (Stability Assist [3PP] (Computer) Device 4.2 (Gun & Grenades; 21PP Container; Feats: Multiple Weapons 3; Flaws: Easy-to-Lose) [16PP] (Tech) Gizmos Array 9.5 (19PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 3; Drawbacks: Distracting) [27PP] Base Power: [19PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Magnetism, Radiation, Subatomic Particles, Meson) Drain 8 (Meson Driver; Drain Toughness; Extras: Affects Objects, Ranged; Feats: Improved Critical 2, Slow Fade 2; Flaws: Action [Full Action]; Drawbacks: Full Power) [19PP] Alternate Power: [19PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Magnetism, Radiation, Atomic Particles, Light, Aurora) Dazzle 8 (Aurora Roarer; Visual Dazzle; Extras: Area [Cloud]; Feats: Ricochet, Thrown 1, Triggered 2; Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses]; Drawbacks: Full Power) [19PP] Alternate Power: [19PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Sound, Infrasound) Nauseate 8 (Infrasound Concert; Extras: Area [Burst]; Feats: Ricochet, Thrown 1, Triggered 2; Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses]; Drawbacks: Full Power) [19PP] Alternate Power: [19PP] Additional Descriptor(s): (Magnetism, Subatomic Particles, Electron, Electricity) Stun 8 (Nervebuzzer; Extras: Area [Burst]; Feats: Ricochet, Thrown 1, Triggered 2; Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses]; Drawbacks: Full Power) [19PP] Device 1 (Breathing Mask; 5PP Container; Flaws: Hard-to-Lose) [4PP] (Technology, Gas, Fluorine) Immunity 2 (Suffocation) [2PP] Comprehend 2 (Universal Translator; Understand All Languages, Speak One Language; Flaws: Duration [Sustained]) [2PP] (Computer) Super-Senses 1 (Atmosphere Tester; Sense Type: Olfactory; Default: Radius, Ranged; Extras: Analytical) [1PP] Device 0.2 (Control Gloves; 1PP Container; Flaws: Hard-to-Lose) [1PP] (Technology, Light, Radio, Hologram) Datalink 2 (Remote Control [100ft. Range]; Flaws: Limited [Skyboard Only]) [1PP] Drawbacks: (-6) + (-2) = -8PP Weakness (Inhaled Oxygen; Frequency: [Uncommon]; Intensity: [Moderate, -1 Constitution Drain], Accelerated Effect [1 Minute]) [-6PP] Vulnerability (Heat; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1DC]) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 10 Toughness Damage Particle Cannon Ranged DC 23 Toughness Damage Meson Driver Ranged DC 18 Fortitude Drain (Toughness) Aurora Roarer Ranged DC 18 Fortitude Dazzle Infrasound Concert Ranged DC 18 Fortitude Nauseate Nervebuzzer Ranged DC 18 Fortitude Stun Totals: Abilities (34) + Combat (14) + Saving Throws (9) + Skills (26) + Feats (14) + Powers (61) - Drawbacks (-8) = 150/167 Power Points