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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2013 Freedom City, New Jersey Lunchtime Rachel Coletta had chosen to take her lunch on the outside deck of Stan's Super Heroes, enjoying the warm weather now that it had come to Freedom City. She wasn’t particularly happy with her next assignment, covering a battle-of-the-bands style concert that was full of glorified cover bands. She knew that as the cub she would get all the stories no one else wanted, but it didn’t mean she was happy about it. To take her mind off things, she was indulging in a couple of her favorite vices; a big meal and people-watching with malicious intent. It was almost comical to see the small woman pick up the Atlas And All and try to fit a single bite into her mouth, but Rachel’s attention was more focused on the people walking around her. A woman in a trendy dress, swinging a bag from a Freedom City fashion house crossed the street; Rachel imagined that she was a secret shopper for a competing Los Angeles brand, scoping out the competition. She let her imagination run wild as she devoured the burger, and all too soon she realized her plate was empty. Rachel was pondering a cup of soup or salad to go when a piercing scream rose above the streets. She covered her ears, along with everyone else, but it didn’t seem to help; the scream deepened to a rumble in her gut, and centered itself high in the sky. She looked up, and saw a blazing something move rapidly towards the western horizon. It seemed to pass directly overhead, with a noise that set off car alarms and rattled windows, before disappearing over the horizon. The reporter left money pinned under her plate and dashed towards an alleyway, taking advantage of the confusion and found a dark corner. Her over-large purse opened and a form-fitting purple-and-orange costume floated out; Rachel’s hair shivered snake-like as it unwound from its long braid, and her clothes and her costume proceeded in opposite directions. In moments, Maelstrom rose from the alleyway, cape and hair floating behind her on the breeze and in the wake of her power. She made sure her purse was well-locked and stashed it on a rooftop, then headed north, towards the river. She meant to investigate whatever that was, but first she had to pick up someone. Nathaniel! Did you just hear that?

Player Name: Arichamus Character Name: Mind-Set Power Level: 10 (150/152PP) Trade-Offs: -2 Defence / +2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 2 Progress To Bronze Status: 2/30 In Brief: Gentler half of an artificial-human duo created by the Foundry to experiment with psionic powers, Created with the power to control the mind and senses. Alternate Identity: Nathan(iel) Colletta Identity: Secret Birthplace: Foundry lab Occupation: Superhero, nurse Affiliations: Providence Asylum, Freedom City University, The Foundry Family: Rachel Colletta (sister) Description: Age: 24 (Date of birth: June 1980) Apparent Age: Mid-twenties Gender: Male Ethnicity: Italian/Cyborg, Caucasian(as Mind-Set) Height: 6' 5"/6' 8"(as Mind-Set) Weight: 210 lbs Eyes: Brown/Blue(as Mind-Set) Hair: Black Description: Big and tall is the simplest way to describe Nathaniel, he's brawny and well-toned with broad shoulders and powerful arms and legs, his skin darkly tanned. The thick black hair on his proportionally-appropriate head is wavy, cut short and always impeccably combed above bushy eyebrows and earnest brown eyes. His features are classically handsome, though not more so than many, and usually set in a warm, encouraging smile. Off-duty he wears button-up shirts(preferably blue) and khaki pants with sturdy shoes, while on the job at the asylum he fills out the standard-issue crisp white uniform. As Mind-Set he conceals his identity behind both a simple green mask and the illusion of a paler and(even more) square-jawed champion of justice, dressed in a vibrant blue, rich orange and glistening black costume marked with a sunset on the chest. In that disguise his eyes blaze blue and his voice deepens in timbre. A medical scan of either twin will reveal a web of electronics and circuits digging into their brain. They are aware of it, but believe that it exists to boost their powers. In truth their memories and personalities are housed in the electronics, not in their grey matter. Power Descriptions: Nathan is telepathic, and his powers have governance over the mind and what it perceives. Mind-Set's powers, besides his ability to form very persuasive sensory simulacrums(Illusion), are remarkably difficult to detect given their wide-ranging effect. When standing at just the right angle, it's possible to make out the passage of some invisible force when he's trying to overthrow another's reason(Mental Blast, Emotion Control) or a flicker of electric blue light in the depths of his eyes and someone whose will he's trying to override(Mind-Control). When hiding himself and others from the senses(Concealment), their bodies appear to disappear in a circular wave from the torso outward. To those with the right detection abilities, Mind-Set's powers give off a flare of cold blue light around himself and his target or targets, or a harsh electronic crackle. History: Talos, the ingenious Man of Bronze and molder of the Foundry, has been hard at work making artificial beings like himself for decades. For obvious reasons, most of them were metal minds in metal bodies, as he struggled to create someone really like himself, a true peer. However, he's always been interested in replicating the bizarre powers displayed by organic superhumans, exemplified by his wayward 'son' Argo, the Ultimate Android, and like his business partner Overshadow has a vested interest in that elusive yet tempting source of power: psionics. That such a thing as a psychic robot had never been seen before was taken by Talos as an implicit challenge by the universe. Working from the understanding that since organic brains are similar to electronic ones on a base level(interpreting and reacting to exterior stimuli by electric impulses) and that psychics must be somehow exploiting that, Talos studied and experimented for years on those unfortunate enough to both have such abilities and fall into his bronze clutches. To his disgust, he found that the best results were got from organic 'carriers', their brain-wave patterns somehow amplifying the powers he managed to replicate. Making lemonade from lemons being one of his few positive sides, Talos honed and refined his process until he had two prime subjects, both indistinguishable from normal humans save for the small pieces of circuitry and electronics in their brains: where he gave them their powers, their personalities, and their first spark of life. One could wreak havoc on everything outside the mind, the other on everything within it. Given that and his agents Keres and(nominally)Blackfire, it's likely they would have been intended as sleeper agents, but Talos' plans were thrown into disarray when his alliance with the Curator led to the destruction of the secret lab the twins(given the names Nathan and Rachel Colletta) were being tested and grown in, and the pair were evacuated with all speed as the facility exploded and crumbled around them. They escaped death or capture(or rescue), but not without damage, including damage to the mental programming that would have compelled them to search out some other Foundry base. They had enough training to get by in the world, however, and after making their grueling way to civilization, set about the work of their new lives. Talos had already set up a plausible family history for the pair to draw from, and the rest fell out as could be expected, including the "discovery" of their powers and slow migration to Freedom City, super-city of opportunity. Nathan soon developed a fascination with the workings of the human mind, its relationship with the brain and the mysteries therein, seizing an opportunity to study it as a nurse at the Providence Asylum(which after taking on 'superhuman' patients has also significantly increased its wages and health insurance policy) alongside his courses at FCU. These days Mind-Set spends them like many working university students; he splits his time rigorously between work, ease and school life, keeps up a wide ring of friends on and off campus, and heads off on superheroic excursions with sister Maelstrom when the need arises. It's a good life, busy, and with more doors opening up before the Colletta twins all the time. Whatever new plans Talos might have for his oddest pawns, if indeed they aren't already unconsciously playing one out, remains to be seen. Personality & Motivation: A towering and sturdy rock to his sister's raging sea, Nathan(iel, as he insists on adding to it) has grown up into the role of peacekeeper and mediator. He embraces that due to both a history of calming down situations his sister got involved in(the ones she didn't end), and a fascination with how and why people think and do what they do. His powers give him a window on that, but he prefers a more academic method(and fears coming to rely on his powers to get what he wants), and hopes in his heart of hearts to find a way to 'cure' the problems afflicting those suffering mental illnesses and imbalances. Preferably without superpowers. Nathan's work with the mentally ill is something he values deeply, as the young man views many of the world's villains as very like his patients, people in need of care, understanding and treatment over punishment. This hasn't diminished his power to recognize real, conscious evil, but it has made him more sympathetic to the plight of those in real need of help. In person he's laid-back and confident, preferring to be the supporter of a group over being a leader, years of playing second-fiddle making it a natural and comfortable fit for him. Powers & Tactics: A diehard support specialist, Mind-Set tends to keep on the sidelines and coordinate with his sister over their telepathic link(between their chips), providing illusory screens and manipulating the emotions of their enemies to keep the bad guys in disarray. If at all possible, he remains undetectable for as long as possible and keeps nearby allies also hidden, unleashing his savage assault on others' psyches only as a last resort. His power to dominate people's minds is something he uses very sparingly, mostly if he's fighting someone on his own and they prove immune to his appeals to reason or if he's in a group fighting someone vastly stronger than them. Complications: Actually Artificial Nathan's mind and personality is housed in a computer distributed throughout his brain. This leaves him open to powers that normally only affect computers, like Datalink or an EMP attack. "And now for that mask!": Mind-Set doesn't wear much of a disguise, and if his illusion is penetrated there isn't much to protect his identity. Brainwashed and Crazy: Talos doesn't believe anymore in tools that can't be controlled. Not to mention the danger if somebody else figured out how to 'access' either twin. False History The Collettas' history is elaborate, but ultimately fake. Enough digging will reveal this. "I'm real, damn it!": Nathan puts an irrational emphasis on his being a 'real' person, and will go to considerable lengths to prove it to himself or others. Overdrawn at the Brainpower Bank: The mental discipline needed to use his psychic abilities can mean havoc if it's broken or strained, such as if he fails a crucial Concentration check or overtaxes himself using Extra Effort. Responsibility: His sister's well-being, his patients at Providence, his studies, his friends, his need to conceal his true name from criminals. Secret: Identity. Secret: He's a psionic organic robot made by a genocidal metal robot. [if that comes out, it leads to a Prejudice Complication.] Secret Past: 'Nathan' isn't human, not strictly; he and Rachel were both created by the Foundry, even if they don't remember it. That was a lie?: Nathan genuinely wants to trust and bring out the best in people, which despite his powers makes him just that much more vulnerable to deception than his more cynical sister. Whoops! Zhat vas not medicine!: As a nurse at Providence Asylum, Nathan is often unknowingly vulnerable to the likes of the Maestro or Fear-Master, something that could make already complicated situations a lot more so. Abilities: 6 + 8 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 4 = 42PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16 + 8 = 24PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +10 Melee, +8 Ranged, +10 Mental Blast Grapple: +13 Defense: +8 (+4 Base, +4 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -0 Saving Throws: 5 + 6 + 8 = 19PP Toughness: +10*/12 (+5 Con, +5 Force Field, +0*/2 Defensive Roll; +0/5 Impervious) *Flat-Footed Fortitude: +10 (+5 Con, +5) Reflex: +10(+4 Dex, +6) Will: +12 (+4 Wis, +8) Skills: 56R = 14PP Concentration 8 (+12) Bluff 8 (+10) Diplomacy 10 (+12) Drive 1 (+5) Knowledge(Behavioral Sciences) +5 (+8) Knowledge(Current Events) 2 (+5) Knowledge(Streetwise) 3 (+6) Languages 2(English(Native), Italian, Spanish) Sense Motive 6 (+10) Stealth 11 (+15) Feats: 8PP Attack Focus(Melee) 2 Defensive Roll 1 Dodge Focus 4 Improved Initiative Powers: 11 + 30 + 2 = 43PP Force Field 5(Extras: Impervious 5; Feats: Subtle)[11PP] Psychic, Technology Mind Play Array 12.5(25PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 5)[30PP] Psychic, Technology Base Power: Mental Blast 10(Flaws: Range(Ranged), Distracting; Power Feats: Accurate, Homing 1(1Extra Attempt), Reversible, Sedation, Subtle)[24/25PP] AP: Concealment 10(All Senses(Auditory, Olfactory, Mental, Visual); Extras: Affects Others; Flaws: Passive; Feats: Close Range , Selective)[22/25PP] AP: Emotion Control 10(Feats: Mind Blank, Subtle)[22/25PP] AP: Illusion 6(All Senses; Feats: Progression 1(Area; 10-ft radius))[25PP] AP: Mind Control 10(Extras: Conscious; Flaws: Sense-Dependent(They must meet his eyes); Feats: Mental Link, Subtle)[22/25PP] AP: Mind Reading 10(Extras: Area(250ft radius), Linked(Quickness), Selective; Flaws: Distracting; Feats: Progression 2 (Area: 25ft. per rank=250ft. radius), Subtle)[23/25PP] + Quickness 4(x25 normal speed;Flaws: Mental tasks only)[2PP] = 25PP Super-Senses 1 (Communication Link [Rachel Colletta], Feat: Subtle) (Sibling Link) (Telepathy) [2PP] [table]DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Melee DC18 Toughness(Staged) Damage(Physical) Emotion Control Perception DC20 Will Emotion Change Illusion Perception DC16 Will Illusion Maintained Mental Blast Ranged DC25 Will (Staged) Damage(Mental) Mind Control Perception DC20 Will Mind Controlled Mind Reading Touch(Area, 250ft.) DC20 Reflex/Will Mind Read[/table] Totals: Abilities (42) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (19) + Skills (14) + Feats (8) + Powers (43) - Drawbacks (0) =150/152 Power Points

Rolls and suchlike for >this thread.

Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. I’m the sister of Nathan Coletta and a powerful psychic in my own right. Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? On the street, bad guys called me Maelstrom. What is your full birth name? Rachel Coletta. Where do you live? I share an apartment with my brother. How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? I’m about 24 years old. I was born in June 1980. Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. I’m a woman. How would you describe your heritage? Italian-American-Artificial? Genetically I’m Italian, but I don’t have a lot of connection to the old country, and I have some cybernetic implants. How tall are you? I’m pretty short. What is your body type? I’m very thin. Not very well-muscled, either. Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? I can get some pretty bad hay fever when everything is blooming. How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? I’m not sure that I can be called graceful, but I’m very confident. You have to be a bit of a tomcat to get interviews as a short, female reporter. Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. Dark, dark, and dark. My skin’s very Mediterranean, and my eyes and hair are both black. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? As long as possible. I love my hair, it’s my best feature. At work I wear it in a braid, but I leave it unbound and down as often as I can. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? What are you asking? I’m a knock-out. Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? Nothing like that yet. Give me a few years on the streets, though. Do you resemble anyone famous? Nobody’s said anything to me, and I don’t really watch movies so I wouldn’t know. Do you have a dominant hand? I write with my right, so yes. What kind of clothing do you wear? At work I like pantsuits, with running shoes. It’s a nice mix of professional, and able to be on my feet all day. Off hours, I wear whatever makes me look good, which is most things. Do you wear makeup? Of course. I like greens and dark reds, to play up my darker features. What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? High enough that you don’t want me around glass when I’m singing opera, let’s say that. 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? I am admittedly a biter, a grinder. I don’t know where it comes from, but I know when I’m nervous I feel better if I have something to bite on. No one’s ever commented on it, but I know I ruin plenty of pen caps around the office. When I’m bored, I deliberately mispronounce words, which drives all the reporters I work around to distraction. History Where do you come from? Well my birth certificate says Cincinnati, Ohio, but I don’t remember it. Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? My brother and myself settled in Freedom City. It’s not as far a move as some people, but it’s a few states over. 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 don’t know if I feel loyal to the US, but I feel lucky to live in a country that outright encourages journalistic debate. How do you feel about the place you come from? I don’t feel anything. I’ve been to Cincinnati, but I don’t have feelings for any place there. I was even to the apartment building I was supposed to be living in, but nothing. What is your earliest memory? Waking up on the banks of the Ohio River next to my brother, crawling out of a tube. How did you react to your amnesia? Who was there to help you through it? I know I would’ve been worse off without Nathan. He’s always been better at the stoic resistance shtick than me. If I had been alone, I probably would’ve gone nuts. Aside from Nate, there was a Catholic charity that helped us get back on our feet. I’ll always be grateful for that. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? I’ve always been really nosy. I’ve always been willing and able to dig and dig to find the next question. Maybe it’s a stupid talent for most people, but it’s really handy for a reporter. Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? Well when I was 17 I woke up without any memory of whom I was, I think that counts. What happened to cause your amnesia? A very good question that I never got an answer to. Best story I ever heard was that we were kidnapped by some supervillain who did something to our brains, but I’ve never figured out who it could have been. What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done? … Honestly? In a long-term, lie awake at night, define-your-life kind of stupidity? Probably leave Cincinnati. Sure, we had no memories of the place, but it was the only place where we had any kind of a support network. Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? Well both Nathan and I got our GEDs without any trouble, but it was still a few years before I was ready to go back to school. Eventually I got into Freedom City University on a scholarship, studying journalism. I completed my four years with a pretty good GPA; it was kind of weird, because I was four or five years older than everyone else in the program. They expected me to have all the answers and be their mentor, but I knew less about the city and the world and living life than most of the teenagers I had classes with. Pathetic, I know. Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I wish I did, I really do. Apparently me and Nathan were the only kids our parents ever had, and there’s no extended family either. Heck, I had to get a reprint of my birth certificate from the Secretary of State’s office when I wanted to apply for the scholarship. When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? I read the papers. Like, two of them every day, and another one at night, and I browse the news websites. There’s a lot of crap going on in the world, and I can do more about it than most people. So am I supposed to just sit at home and wait for someone else to fix it? Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? No, that’s pretty much what I tell folks; I want a better world, and I can do more to bring it about than most people by being out on the streets and pushing in teeth. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? If there are, I don’t remember them. Of course, that’s not saying much. Do you represent yourself as being different from whom you really are? Why? I wouldn’t know how to be anyone else. Are you afraid of anything in your past? I used to worry that some kingpin would snatch me and Nathan back to whatever lab he had us in before, or else there was some huge debt out there waiting to crush us, but it’s been almost a decade. If something from our past was going to appear and blow up in our faces, it would’ve done it by now. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? A little loitering, a little petty annoyance and trespassing. I’ve never done any B&E and I don’t have any restraining orders against me. Family What are your biological parents' names? Adam and Bethany Coletta, from the birth certificate. Did you ever meet them? No. Apparently they died when I was young. Left Nathan and I a pretty sizable inheritance, though. Do you have any extended family? Nothing and no one. Where are your parents now? Dead. In a car crash, from the police reports. How do you feel about your parents? I don’t feel anything, which is kind of creepy. I should miss them or something, right? But when I think about them, there’s some pictures and names, and that’s it. The doctors all said it was a natural part of the healing process, and I’d gotten over their deaths awhile back. But I still think I should feel something. How do you hope your parents would view you now? I hope they’d be proud of me and Nathan, for using our gifts like we do. Isn’t that what everyone hopes about their parents, though? Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. Nathan Coletta. I’m close to him like no one else. What was your birth order in the family? I’m the younger, by about two seconds. Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? We live together in the same apartment. Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? I don’t know what I’d do without Nathan. Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? Nathan and I are, well, we’re telepathic. With each other, at least. It’s not some kind of weird hive mind, but I can ‘talk’ to him at any distance, instantaneously. It’s kind of hard not to keep him in the loop. Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. I don’t know. I guess if we’re black sheep, that would explain why no one wants anything to do with us. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. No, pretty normal family, all things considered. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. Nobody yet, no. 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 don’t know. I’d like to have a career first, but once I’m established… Maybe. What type of person would be your ideal mate? Someone who isn’t afraid to push back against me. I don’t think I could live with some milquetoast who let me run roughshod over them. Relationships Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? It’s going to sound cliché, but my best friend is my brother. Maybe it’s the psychic thing, maybe it’s the amnesia, but there’s no one else that I trust like I do my brother. If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? Nathan. Definitely. I know that if we went missing, I’d tear the city apart looking for him. He might not be able to do the same thing, but I don’t envy the mind of anyone who stands between us. Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? Anyone I loved before that spring day when I was 17 is gone for good. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. Not really, no. There’s some folks at work who I’d rather not see, but nothing I’d call an enemy. What is the worst thing someone has done to you? I’m going to go with whatever mad bastard stole my past. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Nathan first, everyone and everything else second. Who or what do you trust the most? Why? My brother, full stop. When our world was barely there, was just some words on paper, he kept me grounded. Kept me sane. Who or what do you despise? Why? I don’t like people who try to manipulate other people, who tell half-truths and twist the meaning of every word to reflect their meaning. It’s the sort of dishonesty that really burns me as a reporter, because they’re lying with the facts. What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? I like people who push, who don’t give up. I try to have that quality, to never stop fighting for what I believe in and what I’m sure about. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? I don’t like people who are push-overs, who fold that the first opportunity or don’t try to fight for what’s important to them. I think I show everyday that I’m more than that. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? I have a different name on the streets, yes. The only person who I would consider close to me is Nathan, and I can’t imagine hiding it from him. I don’t think I could hide my powers from someone I was close to. I’m too liberal with using them in private. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? Nathan and I work well together. I usually take the lead, but that’s because stopping to plan things isn’t really in my nature. I don’t know if I’d work well with anyone else. My powers are a bit too indiscriminate, and I can get too caught up in using them to keep the big picture in mind. Are you on a super team? Not any kind of superteam, no. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? There’s a Catholic church near our apartment that I go to on Sundays. It’s pretty much just that hour, though. Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? I always liked Captain Thunder and Doc Metro’s style. Getting stuck into the middle of things, and using their whole environment as weapons. Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? I used to be big on Atlas, no pun intended, but then he turned out to be a Grue weapon. How can you trust someone when they were made by someone like that? Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? I love it. Getting out there and being able to do stuff instead of just talking about it? Best part of my day. Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? Maybe if I found a real position that let me write the kind of stories I want to, but didn’t leave me time to patrol, I’d hang up the cape, but I can’t imagine going to the other side. What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? I’d like to write some more independent articles on things I’m passionate about, more than just entertainment. What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? I hope I have a permanent position, even a column, in a publication like the Ledger or World Magazine. I’d like to have a husband, and maybe a kid. I might even be living apart from Nathan, who knows? What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? I think the only thing that would qualify for that would really upset my life would be losing Nathan. I don’t know how I would go forward after that. Is there anything you would give your life for? If it was a choice between me and Nathan, I’d do it without a thought. I like to think I’d go right to the wire for an important story, but I don’t know if I’d die for it. 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? It would be nicer to be rich than to be poor. But if you think that wealth is the end-all, be-all, if that’s the only thing you work toward, then your life is hollow. You should be working to make a mark on the world, and if money helps to get there then that’s fantastic, but it’s not the most important thing. How do you generally treat others? I try to give folks a fair shake, but I don’t give second choices. Are you a trusting person? It’s hard to say I’m trusting. A reporter is always sort of standing outside, watching other people. When you spend all day immersed in world news, sometimes you get to start to expect the worst in people. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? I’m very extroverted. I couldn’t do the job I do without being outwardly-focused. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? Well, what do you do? I try to get their attention. What are your most annoying habits? Sometimes I dig too deeply. I’m a professional busy body, and sometimes I keep digging when it would be more polite to shut up. Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? A whole group of people? No. I feel contempt for a few individuals, though. 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? Italian food is my favorite, especially with the heavy, cream sauces. One upside of my powers, I burn calories like nobody’s business so I don’t really have to watch what I eat. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? I don’t really drink alcohol. I don’t really like the taste. I can down a two-liter of soda during a movie, though. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? Those little chocolate chip cookies, the ones the size of potato chips. Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? I’ve never liked hummus. Something between the texture and the taste and the fact that it’s cold. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? I’m partial to purple. It’s probably sentimental. Back when we’d just woken up and me and Nathan were put up by the charity, I had a purple comforter. There was just something about being under it that made me feel safe. What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? When I’m trying to finish an article I like to listen to house music or dubstep, something with a strong beat that doesn’t demand I pay attention to the lyrics. On the radio, though, I listen and sing along to pop tunes. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? No, not really. Once you’ve fought in sewage, anything else smells great. Do you have a favorite animal? Animals shed. Ergo, I do not like animals. What is your most treasured possession? Why? I keep all of my published articles in a big album underneath my bed. It’s a list of my accomplishments. Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? Give me air conditioning and a hot shower over sleeping under the stars any day. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? I used to think that, and then I went to a death metal concert in a pantsuit. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life? How important is it to you? I’d like to believe that there’s Someone up there, looking out for the little guy, but I haven’t settle on a specific robe to wear, no. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? There was a Catholic charity that helped Nathan and I when we woke up. I’m still very grateful for that. 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? There’s a Catholic church just down the road that I go to every Sunday. I don’t know if I really believe. I know I don’t agree with some parts of the dogma. It’s a nice place to center myself and sort of rejuvenate after a long week, though. Could you kill? Have you killed? I’ve never killed in my life. I don’t think I could. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? Well death is the end, isn’t it? If you kill them, there’s no chance of someone changing and fixing what they did. I don’t know, maybe I’m just a sentimental so-and-so. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? … I really don’t know. I guess if it’s to save someone else, then I could understand, but I cannot think of a situation where cold-blooded murder is a good idea. How would you react to watching someone kill another person? I don’t think I’d want to watch that. If I could save someone, I’d turn away. How would you react if something important was stolen from you? I’d tell the police and then I’d go looking for it. If it’s in the city, I’ll find it. How would you react to public humiliation? I’d fight back against it. You can only be humiliated by something that you try to keep secret, after all. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Well, my parents were killed in a car accident, but I don’t remember it. If Nathan was killed… I don’t know how I'd react.. It wouldn’t be safe to be around me, though. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? Could commit ever? Destroying someone’s life with half-truths and mistellings. If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? Five things. Uh. Punch out my editor, kiss the cute guy in the mailroom, go to that little Italian place I never have the money for, take a fast car on a test drive and wreck it, and leave everything to Nathan. There, five. Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? No training for my powers, no. Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? Nathan and I kind of taught each other, I guess. He or me would try something, and then the other would, and we sort of built off each other. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? Unusual? … Not really, no. I’m a reporter, but I learned all that in journalism classes in college. Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? I’m a journalist, and there’s nothing else I can imagine being. Though hopefully I won’t be working for an entertainment rag my whole career. What is your preferred combat style? Throwing whatever is in range. Have you ever received any awards or honors? Not yet. I will, though. What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I'm a pretty good investigator and when it comes to talking to people I can usually get what I need for a story, but I'd kind of like to be able to sneak around a bit better. It might be technically illegal, but it's the fun kind of illegal and no one gets hurt by it. 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 to ask important questions and watch what they’re doing, so I can learn from it. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? Well my radio goes off pretty early, and then a little while later my alarm goes off and I know I have to get out of bed. I get washed up and dressed, and then it’s either Nathan making breakfast or I make breakfast. After that I go to the office, and there’s no kind of routine there, all of my stories are catch-as-catch can. Then it’s home, and dinner, and after that is usually patrolling. I’m really not a fan of schedules and routines, so I’m happy when something breaks it up. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? Sorry, I’m a boring lady. I’m a news hound. I like to write articles and read better newspapers. What do you do for fun? I like to go out, but not to clubs. Anywhere but clubs. Listening to live music is too close to work, you know? Do you have a costume? What does it look like? It’s a lot of purple and orange. Purple most places, and then orange boots, collar, belt, and orange lines connecting it all, and a cape. Gotta have a cape. How do you normally dress when not in costume? Normal for work is pantsuits. Normal out of work is shorts and slacks. What do you wear to bed most nights? I don’t have PJs or anything like that. Usually I just wear a shirt and shorts. Do you wear any special jewelry? I have jewelry, but none of it is particularly special to me. Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? My important documents are in a safe deposit box at a bank, but I don’t have a safe in the apartment or anything. What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? Around the city I mostly use public transport or my own two feet. I don’t bother with owning a car. Long distance, if I can’t finagle something through work I’ll take the cheapest plane tickets I can -- red eye and multiple stop-overs, that sort of thing. Or heck, I can even fly it if it isn’t too far. Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? Uh, no. No will. Not yet, anyway. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? Not anything that comes to mind. Jeez, what a morbid question. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? Telling the truth and shaming the Devil. Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? Potentially, sure. Even when I’m fighting bad guys, I’m ripping up the streets and everything else. If I went bad, I could trash the whole city. What do you perceive as your greatest strength? My tenacity. I never just lay down and give up. What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? I can be a little overzealous in trying to uncover stories, charging in when nothing is happening, and before really thinking. 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... Don’t assume that just because nothing’s come out of your past yet, that nothing ever will. Dig underneath every single rock until you are sure of what happened. Investigate yourself.