Haven News

[Supercape]

HELL Q

 

Introduction

 

Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence.

A clump of programmable matter surrounding a quantum computer

 

Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume?

Cyber Samurai

 

What is your full birth name?

Milo Mikano

 

Where do you live?

Emerald City, in my secret underground lair.

 

How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)?

Age of manufacture unknown… Age of operation, 1 year

 

Physical Traits

What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain.

None-not human.

 

How would you describe your heritage?

As Milo Mikano, Half Korean.

 

How tall are you?

6’

 

 

 

 

What is your body type?

Slender

 

Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities?

Magnetic fields

 

 

 

How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence?

Agile, silent, and stealthy but with a certain stiffness of posture.

 

Describe your skin, eye, and hair color.

No skin, no eyes, no hair. But form is generally a dark steely colour.

 

Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others?

No. But my form is mutable, so it may vary.

 

Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks?

None

 

Do you resemble anyone famous?

No

 

Do you have a dominant hand?

No

 

 

 

What kind of clothing do you wear?

An expensive and crisp suit. Black suit and tie, pristine white shirt. Starched and Iron.

 

Do you wear makeup?

No

 

What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way?

Average.

 

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?

Pressing my fingertips together when deep in thought. Glowing eyes when scrutinising something.

 

History

Where do you come from?

Born in Tokyo.

 

Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown?

Throughout my childhood moved between America and Japan. Settled in Japan when my parents died. Moved to Emerald City when thirty five (after downloading my brain into computer).

 

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 respect the culture and history, and honour it to some modest extent, but I am not patriotic.

 

How do you feel about the place you come from?

I miss it, but I am angry at the corruption and crime.

 

Where is your home town? What was/is it like?

Tokyo-an exciting and innovative place.

 

 

Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you?

I was smarter than most-if not all. I kept myself somewhat to myself, but had some friends.

 

Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life?

Computers. Been hacking since my teenage years.

 

Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)?

My mother died when I was fourteen from a neurodegenerative disorder. My father was murdered a year later. Been fending for myself ever since.

 

Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life.

My parents giving me my first computer at the aged of seven. And showing me how to use it. Hooked ever since.

 

What stupid things did you do when you were younger?

Hacking. And then fending for myself at the age of fifteen – not addressing my grief, not going into care, becoming a juvenile cyber-criminal.

 

Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it?

I missed a lot of school but I went to School in Japan. I did well, but didn’t study hard. My interest was in technology and computers and I got that out of school.

 

Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not?

Some cultural relics from my parents. They had the wealth and liked art. I am not so fond myself, but it reminds me of them. Swords, clothing, books, art.

 

 

 

 

When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision?

Being an angry young man out for revenge on crime propelled me to a sense of justice. I started using my criminal activities to fight crime…

 

Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why?

No, I am honest. I am no saint, I circumvent the law, but I am not a bad person.

 

Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you?

No

 

Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why?

I am not sure who I am-am I still Milo Mikano? Or just his memories in a computer? I hide the uncertainty, but I am honest about the facts.

 

Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge?

As Milo Mikano, yes.

 

Family

What are your biological parents' names?

Mishima Mikano (Father), Mary Miller (Mother)

 

Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you.

Yes

 

What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living?

They met as active computer hackers / computer security experts. Criminals, of a benign, or maybe rebellious nature.

 

Where are your parents now?

Dead

 

 

 

 

Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot?

They moved around a lot between countries but my father was based in Japan, my mother in USA. They had a cyber-relationship but spent a few months a year together.

 

How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable).

Pretty well, they inspired and excited me, but in retrospect I think I was given to free a reign as a child.

 

How do your parents view you now, or how would they?

They would miss my flesh and bones, but they would be proud of me.

 

Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them.

None

 

Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular?

None alive to do either.

 

Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)?

No

 

Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain.

All of us were/are black sheep- hackers!

 

Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life.

I understand a great-great-great grandfather was a Ronin of some legendery skill with a sword. I have a passing interest in the Samurai culture and Kendo.

 

Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them.

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 cant. Biological ones, anyway. No lamentations about that.

 

What type of person would be your ideal mate?

Me.

 

Relationships

Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them.

No. But I do have some friends in the hacktivist community around the world. I prefer those relationships to flesh and blood ones.

 

Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend?

No-I probably should have one.

 

If you were to go missing, who would worry about you?

The hacktivist community.

 

Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do?

A few, when I was young. I never invested properly in any relationship. Maybe I should have, but… I am not an easy man to love.

 

Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you.

Yakuza in Japan. They murdered my father. And this has bled over into a universal hatred for organised crime, and corruption in particular.

 

 

 

 

If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future?

Try to find me, for starters.

 

What is the worst thing someone has done to you?

Killed my father.

 

Where do your loyalties lie? In what order?

To justice, to those fighting for justice, to progress. In that order. By justice I do not mean the law (although that is often just), but to ensuring a just society.

 

Who or what do you trust the most? Why?

Logic

 

Who or what do you despise? Why?

Corrupt officials. Worse than the people who corrupt them.

 

What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess?

A sense of rationality, of honour, but perhaps a bit of rebellion in people too. I think I possess all three.

 

What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities?

Dishonesty.

 

Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why?

No

 

Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower?

I work well with both, but tend to be a loner by nature. I am neither leader, nor follower-I am both, depending on the mission and its needs.

 

 

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?

No- I should be, but on the periphery.

 

Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that?

Hacktavist collectives. I spend too much time on that. I should get out more…

 

Personality & Beliefs

Who are your heroes?

Several hackers. Leonardo Da Vinci, Abraham Lincoln, Alan Turing, Aristotle, Confucius.

 

Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances?

Not yet

 

Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it?

The rewarding part is bringing crooks and corruption into the light. I am not sure I am a hero. I am merely dedicated.

 

Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides?

No

 

What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)?

More contacts. More friends. More knowledge about the workings of Emerald City. More bugs, more cyber infiltrations.

 

What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)?

Moving to a new city, to start the process again.

 

 

What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear?

Arrest and Imprisonment. I react with anger, even violence.

 

Is there anything you would give your life for?

Lots of other lives.

 

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 mark of success, or a means to an end?

It’s a very important means to a very important ends. I do not like to own much, myself, but my families relics, and my suits are things I must have.

 

How do you generally treat others?

With respect.

 

Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused?

No, I am not. Trust must be earned. I start out with a respect, and a respectful distrust, and go from there.

 

Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence?

I am introverted but am confident.

 

How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex?

The same as anybody else.

 

What are your most annoying habits?

Obsessive determination.

 

Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why?

Lazy people, who just sit back and let the world go by.

 

 

 

 

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 don’t eat. I used to like noodles.

 

What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

Wine.

 

What is your favorite treat (dessert)?

I don’t eat any more. I used to like ice cream (vanilla).

 

Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat?

Don’t eat any more. I used to like almost anything.

 

What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike?

Black.

 

What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate?

Minimalist classical. And the occasional punk song.

 

If you have a favorite scent, what is it?

I cant smell.

 

Do you have a favorite animal?

Cats

 

What is your most treasured possession? Why?

My clothes. I have always loved the simple, elegant and expensive suit. I feel naked without it.

 

Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts?

Comforts. Although in a minimalist way.

 

Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do?

If the end is worth it, no.

 

Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you?

No

 

Could you kill? Have you killed?

I could, but I haven’t yet. At least not directly.

 

What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action?

Taking a life is a heavy thing, not to be done lightly. But if it is necessary save other lives, it is a duty to do so.

 

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?

It depends on the circumstances; I would not revel in it, I would probably loathe it, but if it was necessary, it would be a brave thing to do.

 

How would you react if something important was stolen from you?

With fury! Unless it was done with exceptional skill-then I would also admire the cunning.

 

How would you react to public humiliation?

Retreat.

 

How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you?

With a seething, steely anger. Not an explosive fury, but a quiet and rumbling conviction to take revenge.

 

 

 

 

What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why?

Political corruption. Democracy was hard won, and abusing it is beyond reprehensible.

 

If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours?

Release my work to the world via internet leaks.

 

 

Career & Training

Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it?

I am a master of computer technology, taught by my parents and later self taught.

 

Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person?

Myself

 

Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them?

No

 

Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to?

A steal electronic money from crooks and criminal organisations.

 

What is your preferred combat style?

Elegant, efficient. I do not like anything flashy, but I prefer a certain graceful efficiency to all things.

 

Have you ever received any awards or honours?

No

 

What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could?

Social skills?

 

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 would try and learn.

 

 

Lifestyle & Hobbies

What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine?

I spend most of it on a computer screen. But I do get out to get information, plant bugs, and so on.

 

Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up?

I am lamentably obsessive. I do like chess.

 

What do you do for fun?

Study. Read.

 

Do you have a costume? What does it look like?

Unless you call a suit a costume…

 

 

How do you normally dress when not in costume?

A suit… see, its not really a costume.

 

What do you wear to bed most nights?

I don’t sleep.

 

Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like?

No.

 

Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables?

My lair.

 

 

 

 

What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance?

Walking, but car if not in walking distance. High speed jet for long distance.

 

Miscellaneous

Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make?

No. As a robot, I am not entirely sure how the law applies to me…

 

If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body?

Its mechanical structure.

 

What would you like to be remembered for after your death?

He got the job done.

 

Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not?

No- protecting the public is my mission.

 

What do you perceive as your greatest strength?

Dedication.

 

What do you perceive as your greatest weakness?

Obsessiveness.

 

 

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...

No man is an island, dude. Get some friends who have your back.

Edited August 13, 2023 by Supercape

[Supercape]

The Interview

 

 

HACKTAVIST INTERNATIONAL CYBER-INTERVIEW

 

DARK WEB ONLY

 

WITH HACKER KNOWN AS “HAVEN”

 

1.       Where is you from?

Japan, Tokyo.

 

2.       What do you look like?

I am everywhere, anything. Know me by my suit. Its not a supersuit, just a clean, expensive suit. Hackers are professionals, we should look like professionals.

 

3.       What do you sound like?

Calm, measured. To the point. No point wasting time with small talk.

 

4.       What motivates you?

I’ve seen plenty of injustice around the world. We know dark secrets-lets work together to bring the crooks to justice.

 

5.       What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Intelligence, determination. Actually, too determined. I need to get out more…

 

6.       What do you love doing when your not hacking?

Chess, walking, seeing the city.

 

7.       How would you describe your mental and emotional state?

Obsessive, but aren’t we all? Its like steel-strong but inflexible. I should bend a bit, right? Get out, have fun?

 

8.       What does you fear the most?

Not getting back on my feet when I fall. Despair.

 

9. What is your greatest ambition?

Get better. I will never reach perfection, but I want to travel in that direction.

 

10. How does you feel about the state of the world?

Too much corruption. People abusing the system. Too many people not doing anything about it.

 

11. How do you get along with others?

I prefer my own company. I don’t mind others. In small doses. As long as they are smart and civil.

 

12. Where do your loyalties lie?

Democracy, the hacktivist community, heroes-be it super or otherwise.

 

13. Is there a Mrs Haven? Would you like to have one?

I… errr… there is not. I don’t have the time. And… I don’t have the desire. Or maybe the ability.

 

14. Do you have a family?

Not any more. Losing your parents at a young age is crushing.

 

15. How would the people closest to you describe you?

Dedicated, smart. Maybe too dedicated. Maybe to smart…

 

16. Are you a role model?

What we do isn’t always legal. But we can do the right thing. That’s something we should aspire to.

 

17. Are you religious, philosophical, or rational?

The latter, with a bit of philosophical. I dont think any of those stateents are mutually exclusive. I am pragmatic first and foremost. 

 

18. Are you part of a team?

No, but maybe I should be.

 

19. How does you feel about aliens?

Plenty of cover ups, right? You know about [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] right? And even [REDACTED]… that was quite a shock!

 

20. If you could give one piece of advice to yourself, what would it be?

No man is an island. Get friends, get comrades.

[Supercape]

Haven: Origin Vignette

 

Life and Death

 

Origin: Haven

 

“It seems that I still have to die, even if I live.”

 

Haven reached out. His fingertips brushed the hand of the dying man, then took two of the withered fingers in his. The response was intended, but feeble.

Milo Mikano was dying, barely able to keep his chest rising and falling. His nervous system had fallen prey to the same degenerative disease that had plagued his mother. Some genetic mutation that eroded the synapses. Milo liked to fantasise that the mutation had also blessed him and his mother with a razor-sharp mind, although there was no evidence for the link. His disease had killed him, his genius had saved him. In a way.

 

An hour ago, Milo Mikano had started the process of coping his synaptic architecture into the quantum computer he had named Haven. A silver ball of palladium-iridium adaptive networks, ten inches in diameter, the sphere had duly mapped out and copied Milo’s brain. The next step was to form a casing of programmable matter around the computer, which then formed itself into a fair likeness of Milo himself, albeit with an odd smoothness of skin, and odd absence of blemish, and with cheeks still covered in healthy fat, with facial muscles still active, rather than the skeletal remains of the real Milo Mikano’s degenerated and near paralysed face.

 

And now the flesh Milo was looking at his own face, created from the stolen programmable matter he had procured from a Yakuza controlled electronic company. Yes, the Yakuza were moving into cyber-crime, artificial intelligence and cybernetics. And Milo Mikano was always happy to take from the Yakuza.

He had created Haven, a computer, a robot, a system. An image, a copy of himself. But Milo, the flesh and blood Milo, was still alive, and would still die.

He smiled at his creation.

 

“I would rather die now. It is an effort to keep breathing, and it isn’t right two of us being alive at the same time.”

 

And there were footsteps outside his apartment. The Yakuza had come to claim their property and exact revenge. Milo Mikano had wrought untold havoc on their operations over the last year.

 

Haven paused.

 

“I feel I am Milo Mikano. I remember being Milo Mikano. But Milo Mikano is in front of me. What does that mean?”

 

Milo took Haven’s hand in his own, gentle but firm. “Don’t worry about the philosophy of it. I am dying, and I would rather die by my own hand than by the hands of a Yakuza thug trying to stretch my last days into weeks, all of them under the pain of torture.

 

“Your own hand?”

 

“My own hand isn’t strong enough. I mean yours.”

 

Haven withdrew his hand. “Suicide?”

 

“Of a sort. Ask yourself what would you want? Nobody knows me better than me.”

 

“I am… uncertain…”

 

The sounds of the footsteps grew louder. They reached the door; reinforced, locked, but just a door. Silenced guns started blazing. Splinters dropped from the door.

 

“You don’t have time to be uncertain,” wheezed Milo. “They will break through any…”

 

The sound of a shotgun blast ripped through the room.

 

“..moment.”

 

And break through they did. Five of them, black suits, mirrored shades, slicked back hair. The tattoo’s adorning their arms could just be seen. Shotguns, Machine pistols, and even a katana. The hit squad, here to extract revenge. Not to kill-at least, not straight away. They mean to serve us a banquet of pain first, and then parade their victims head on a spike. Nobody messes with the Yakuza, not even Milo Mikano. Nobody messes with them and lives. Milo Mikano may have been dying already, but that would not suffice. The Yakuza had to be the ones to kill him, before nature took its course.

 

So Milo had to die.

 

But Milo would also live.

 

Haven turned to face the mob, wondering if he could utilise the electromagnetic powers. No time to practice, no time to test-he needed to act now. His eyes turned from blue to red, and then bolts of fizzing electricity pulsed from his eye sockets-zam, zam-zam!

 

Two mobsters went down, convulsing, firearms on the floor, eyes rolled back. Haven contemplated finishing them off-killing killers. It was tempting, possibly justified; they showed no mercy and deserved none. One dead Yakuza mobster would probably spare two innocent lives. But-but he was no murderer. He would rather start of his life as Haven without blood on his metal hands.

 

Crackity-Crackity-Crack came the bullets from the machine pistols. Some missed, but at this range, spraying the weapon wildly, not all did. Some of Milo’s medical equipment caught a bullet or two. There was a hiss, and a small explosion of sparks. Haven caught a few more. But this was not a body of bone and sinew. No blood was spilt. The programmable matter deformed, even dented, but he could repair that later. It was no more than a scratch.

 

Impressive.

 

A bolt of blue lightning leapt from one side of the room to another as Haven stimulated a field between the steel rimmed window and the wrought iron cooker. Another two thugs caught the bolt and went to sleep, the electricity tightening their muscles into a painful spasm, contorting their bodies as it did.

 

Unconscious, bent over in a ghastly and uncomfortable shape.

 

The last Yakuza took a moment, deciding whether the pain and dishonour of retreat was worth it. Despite the futility of the action, he chose to charge. A sword above his head, a scream erupting from his lungs, he had decided defeat was better than retreat. Haven had to agree with the logic. The Yakuza took a dim view of failure, but running away was something punishable by death, and a painful and extended death at that.

 

The Sword swished, and swished again, but the thug was only an amateur swordsman. Haven simply took a few steps back, and then focused on the blade, inducing a current that made it glow slightly. Now hot to the touch, the assassin dropped it with a surprised yelp, then watched it burn a hole in the carpet.

Haven reached out his hand, and changed the magnetic field around him. In a flash, the sword leapt from the ground and into his hand. He raised it, sorely tempted to finish the thug off with his own blade. Killer, assassin, murder. The kind of man who had killed his father. Maybe it was even the same man. A bolt of fury overcame him.

 

The blade swung. Haven was not an expert swordsman, but he was quick and efficient in his movement, both hand and blade precise. It was not a killer blow, but it was a serious one. A scream, some blood, and a severed hand on the floor.

 

“You cut off my hand.”

 

Haven felt an odd sickness. His head felt sick, but there was no nausea, no churning and constriction of stomach. He no longer had intestines to feel.

 

“Less than you deserved, for all the lives you have taken.”

 

“You will regret this,” screamed the thug, clutching his arm to stem the arterial pulses of blood, running off to seek safety and medical care.

 

Haven turned around to Milo, but there was no longer any need to consider suicide. Milo had caught a bullet in the neck. The blood still seeped, but no longer pulsed. Milo’s heart had stopped. He was dead. It was at least a quick death.

 

Haven dropped the sword to one side, feeling a pang of regret. He would have rather killed Milo with a swift slice of the sword. Instead, it was death from a Thug’s stray bullet. Same ending, but less poetic.

 

“Maybe I will regret not killing you,” he said to himself. “But not today.”

 

Tokyo was no longer safe. Here, revenge might come at any time. But the Yakuza’s strength would diminish in distant lands. It was time to move.

 

To Freedom City, USA.