Push

[Quinn]

A camera snaps on as Quinn seems to fiddle with it, before backing up and looking at it critically. Behind him is the L.A.I.R's library, and a squashy armchair. He takes a seat and coughs, tweaking his scarf and trying to look nonchalant.

“Yeah, well…hello to whoever might be watching this. Probably Mike, yeah. Hi Mike. You’re probably wondering why I’m recording this, but…maybe it’s best if I leave at least something behind, so people know just who I was. AEGIS is givin’ me a chance to clear my name, bust the…the…warlock. The warlock who framed me back in Gear City. I’m going to find him. No matter what. And when I do, I swear I’ll bring him in, no matter what I have to plough through to do it.

Aaah…too dramatic. I hate when I do that. And not thinking there, either. Can't just plough through things anymore."

He whacks his hand against his head a couple of times, then sighs and looks at the camera again.

"Alright. This is going to be the first in a series of video journals, since writing’s not really my strong point. I’ll be recording small thoughts, ideas I have for my powers…whatever I really think of that should be recorded. All I know is, if I fail, and Scratch manages to do…whatever he’s planning…maybe someone’ll find these and figure out the truth. Maybe. To whoever's watching this, my best regards and wishes. This is Gabriel Quinn, signing off."

The video stops, going to a black screen with DVD options:

Questionnaire

Power Ideas 1

Power Ideas 2

L.A.I.R Upgrades

Thoughts - Other Heroes 1

"Security Tape"

Lazarus Upgrades

[Quinn]

Questionnaire (HellQ).

The camera switches on again, showing Quinn sitting in the squashy armchair again while idly flipping through a small pad of paper, looking thoughtful. He looks up, motions at the paper, and then speaks.

"Alright. First recording, February 16, 2011. This first journal’ll be simple, I managed to download and print this questionnaire off of some roleplaying site, it’s pretty descriptive, should let me...well, answer what I can. So yeah, I guess this’ll do. Might as well make sure people know who I am. Not like anyone’ll really care, or I really care if anyone does, but still. Meh, I still talk too much. Let’s get started.â€

Introduction

Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence.

A knight in sour armor trying to remain sane as my life is repeatedly turned upside down.

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

Aside from Push? Eh…Kinetic King? Shove? I dunno, if it has to do with a blast of force, I guess you could use that. I just took Push because it was simple, and it gets the message across. That, and the news crews don’t stop using it.

What is your full birth name?

Gabriel Angelo Quinn.

Where do you live?

Used to live in Lazarus Auto Repair, apartment above the shop. It was a nice, clean place…yeah, I miss it. Now, this place, I guess. Heh, I always wanted to run my own shop. Lazarus Auto Repair, Freedom City. Maybe I’ll start repairing some of those heromobiles y’see rolling around on the news, yeah?

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

I’m 20 years old, born in 1990.

Physical Traits

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

I’m male.

How would you describe your heritage?

Cynical-American.

How tall are you?

5-foot-something or other. I’m not statuesque, alright? But most bad guys aren’t focusing on my size when they take the same kinetic force as a freight train right to the gut.

What is your body type?

I’m fairly lightweight. Comes from kinda lousy eating and the workouts I get as Push.

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

. . .Dreams. Bad ones. You chase a guy like Scratch for a few years…well…let’s just say you pick up a few bad memories for the shelf. And sometimes I do have…episodes, where those memories just don’t stay down. Get a bit reckless sometimes when that happens, or so I’ve been told.

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

Eh, depends. If I’m in a hurry, I’ll go hell-for-leather and God help anyone who blocks me. If I’m just out on patrol, I’ll amble a bit. As for graceful…well…I wear heavy boots a lot of the time, so I tend to be a mite heavy. And yeah, I walk with confidence sometimes. Power, I’ve got. Control…that’s something I still need to work on.

Describe your skin, eye, and hair color.

Caucasian, grey eyes, and black hair.

How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair?

It’s attached to my head, how else do I wear it?

Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others?

Oh good lord....Yeah, back in Gear City, one of my…err… exes thought I was pretty good-looking, but she wound up being a bit of a wingnut. And an assistant to my arch-nemesis. So… her taste might not be that great. Yeah. Long story there.

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

Thinking of getting one, haven’t yet.

Do you resemble anyone famous?

Huh. I dunno, someone once told me I resembled that guy from the Dresden Files. Paul Blackthorne, yeah. Badass last name, heh…

Do you have a dominant hand?

I’m a righty.

What kind of clothing do you wear?

Anything that’s both roomy and comfortable. And preferably warm. I like my comfort. And that scarf my mom made me when I first saw Doctor Who.

Do you wear makeup?

NO.

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

Meh, I’m a baritone, I guess. I don’t think my voice is that distinctive, but bad guys do get annoyed fast when I start breaking out the snark.

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?

Aside from a boatload of wisecracks? I have a tendency towards pessimism, comes from years in Gear City, America’s Armpit. I have a few favourite words I use to describe things…like Old Night for most of the creepy stuff I’ve seen, the eldritch ancients trying to get through to our world. And yeah, they can annoy people. Most don’t seem to notice, though, unless I’m deliberately trying to taunt them.

History

Where do you come from?

Gear City, USA. Not the prettiest town in the world…make that the universe, but it’s home. And yeah, I miss it. Right down to the factory stench. This Freedom City air’s too damn clean.

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

Major moves? Aside from chasing Scratch all over the States and some of Canada, Freedom City’s been the first place I’ve actually managed to settle down in.

Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country?

That’s a hard one. Government…well, it’s A.E.G.I.S that was always chasin’ me, and it’s the government who pays their salaries…but I’ve known some damn good cops, and this one back in Gear City was a real stand-up guy, even kept my identity quiet. Since I haven’t heard anyone asking for a Quinn, I’m guessing he doesn’t believe I did it...yeah, he was a real stand-up guy. If you’re talking cops in general, or even AEGIS now, I got nothing against them, hell, they do good work. Why else would I leave the crooks I bag all tied up nice for them? Yeah, I guess I’m loyal…but I’d need some assurances if they wanted me to fight for ‘em. Not very patriotic, but then, patriotism’s not done me much good, has it?

How do you feel about the place you come from?

Gear City was a pit. End of story. But it was my pit, y’know? I knew those streets inside and out, the people, even some of the cops. Jericho Street was my home, I knew the folks there. One day I’m gonna go home, one day.

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

Gear City was…it was my home, for one thing. Industry town, everyone I knew who was my dad’s age worked for some factory or another. Smell of smoke and smog was always in the air, and you could hear some machinery operating no matter where you were at all hours. Grimy as all get out too. But like I said, it was home.

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

One brother, but the street I lived on had a lotta kids. We were a gang of mini terrors back in the day, always tearing around pretending to be superheroes…heh. Pretending. Irony, I has it.

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

Heh, now we’re getting somewhere. I’ve always been good with my hands. Love to build things, tinker with ‘em. Cars, especially, and bikes. You ever hear a classic 1972 Gran Torino’s engine purr after you’ve been in there with a wrench for the last week and a half? Pure heaven. How it’s affected me? Well…I guess since I have a knack for fixing things, I want to fix things other than car parts? Yeah, right. Meh, truth be told, it’s just something I do well, and it’s what I went to college for. End of story, aye?

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

Traumatic experiences…being a kid in an industry town wasn’t easy. Smoke, smog, lousy weather, and the smell? Forget about it...my dad worked in a steel factory downtown, and a couple of times he took me there when I was small. Once, though…y’know those big furnaces they got for melting down the raw materials? Well, I once saw this guy…plain fella, hard hat and overalls, just put down his tools, sit on the line, and fall right into the furnace. Didn’t say anything. Scared the holy hell outta me, had nightmares for months. Found out later in the papers that some puppet-master mentalist guy had been arrested by the cops, trying to take over a pile of factories by causing “accidentsâ€. The officers that busted him got feted and all that, but nobody seemed to really care about the “accident†victims beyond a name or two in the paper…and that mentalist guy escaped not long after. ‘sfunny, isn’t it?

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

Hmm…back when I was ‘round 12-13, I woke up in the middle of the night scared outta my wits. Couldn’t figure for the life of me why. So I got outta bed and went walking to go to the bathroom, see? And I hear a noise downstairs. Turns out both my parents were up, watching the TV. I was about to ask them what was going on, when I heard the newscaster say something about the Centurion, so I stayed quiet and listened. Turned out this supervillain’d come up with some big device that was going to wipe out the planet, and the Freedom League was teaming up to stop him. My parents were just sitting there, watching. Didn’t realize it at the time, but I think they were just taking comfort from the face each other was there, and that there were heroes out there fighting the good fight. But my dad’s face while he was staring…don’t think I ever saw him that vulnerable or that worried before. Anyway, Centurion beat him, the world was saved, so on and so forth, and my mom saw me standing by the stairs. She and dad took me upstairs and put me t’bed, see…and they stayed there in my room for a while and we all just talked. Not about what had just happened, but about…well…life and stuff. Think we were all just…making sure we were all there. Nowadays…well…I think about that night sometimes, now that I got these powers…and I…well…if I’m ever in the same position Centurion was in when my ‘rents and I watched that TV, and some kid and his parents are watching the world as they know it about to end…I want to make sure that kid gets put to bed, y’know?

What stupid things did you do when you were younger?

Oh hell, I’ve done a lot of stupid things when I was younger. Running from the SWAT team at the museum, for one. Made some bad choices, girlfriend-wise, back in high school and college. I was a reckless kid, in my own way, and I don’t think I’ve lost that even after I went the cape and cowl route.

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

Went to school at the Gear City Institute of Integrated Technology, no real short form. Got my degree in automotive sciences, had some fun…wasn’t really a party school, but things would usually get pretty raucous the weeks after exams. Yeah, I enjoyed going there, didn’t do much social stuff beyond a few gaming clubs. Actually paid off a bit of my student loan debt playing mah-jong and euchre.

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

Hmm…didn’t have many mementos of my childhood with me when I moved out. If memory serves, most of my old toys and the like are packed away in a trunk in my parent’s house attic. Though…my mom did make me one thing before I left home, and I’ve always gone back for it. Even made it part of my costume. Big red scarf’s pretty identifiable as a costume piece, but it’s a bit of home. And it keeps my neck and face warm in winter.

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

When did I decide to become a hero…probably shortly after I found out, and Mike noogied me into submission. The guy was a big comic book geek back in the day, and the second he knew I had these powers, he was pestering me to get out there and “fight the good fightâ€. I told him I wasn’t a hero, nothing like the big-name capes you see on TV, but he kept poking, and even got me this costume. The big coat and the boots and the like. Well…actually, he started with spandex, but I told him if he ever tried to get that on me then I’d shove him in a trunk upside-down. All sorta snowballed from there, I’d head out a couple of times a week to patrol around Jericho Street, then he asked me to keep watch on a favourite restaurant of his that got robbed, then I’d see or hear about something a little bit out of my patrol route…and then near the end I was out there nearly every night hoofing it across the rooftops all over Gear City. Can’t say exactly why I kept going out of my way, but…meh, it made Mike happy. And he was paying for my room and board, so happy Mike is a good thing.

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

I don’t usually tell people why I became a hero. Mostly outta the fact that I don’t want anyone tracking back to Michael. But yeah, if someone asks I generally trot out some random stuff, usually with the words “freedomâ€, “justice†or something. Fact is, people like hearing that heroes took up a mantle because they wanted to right wrongs and stuff like that, not because they were broke, homeless, and couldn’t think of anything else to do with these powers that wouldn’t have made their mothers ashamed, y’know?

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

Numerous ones.

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

Truth be told, I’ve spent so much time on the run as Push that…the lines between him and Gabriel Quinn are getting a bit blurred. I mean, back in GC I did try and keep some distance between the two, but when one was a wanted man and the other’s barely wanted by anyone…yeah, moving on.

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?

Yeah, I don’t know. Most of the secrets I’ve got are ones solely dealing with the last two-year chase, things I’ve seen and done, but I’m not overly concerned about them beyond keeping quiet myself. The worst thing those’d do would scare people, definitely change my reputation, but for better or worse, I don’t know. I’d rather not let my identity out either…but I will say one thing. I would kill to keep Michael Sharpe and my family safe, reputation or heroism be damned. Mike took me in when I was at the lowest point in my life, living out of the back seat of my car, scrounging to live. And my family’s…my family. If a villain found out about them, and I couldn’t convince him/her to leave them alone through persuasion or threats, then I’d put them six feet under and take the consequences willingly. Wouldn’t sleep easy afterwards, but then, nowadays sleep never does come easy anyway.

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

Yes, I have a criminal record. Well…used to. Far as I know it isn’t public knowledge, though my alias was connected to that massacre in the news, so…yeah, I don’t know that either. AEGIS revoked the warrants once they caught me and got the whole story, anyway.

Family

What are your biological parents' names?

Robert and Susan Quinn.

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

Yeah, I was raised by them. Pretty happy middle-class family life, kind you’d see on TV or something. Except with a lot more shouting. Put four people with strong personalities in one house, well…yeah.

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

Don’t know much about standing. Mom visited the building council now and then, bunch of people from the apartment building that would get together and talk with the owner about grievances, discuss new ideas for get-togethers and the like, and I think my ‘rents were well-liked. Everybody knew everybody there, floor by floor, if you know what I mean. As for what they did for a living, Dad was a factory man. Hard not to be in Gear City. Used to work the line until he got a promotion, few months before I moved out. Mom was a banker before she married Dad, but her branch got closed down after her boss was caught doing something he oughtn’t. She kept house and raised my brother and I while Dad worked dawn to dusk. Dunno if she was sad or happy that she wasn’t working, but last I heard after I moved out was that she was looking for work again.

Where are your parents now?

Same apartment building, same apartment. Haven’t paid them a visit in years, though I do keep sporadic correspondence. Postcards and the like.

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

We stayed in one place. Lived in that apartment from the day I was born till the day I moved out. It was home. Not a house, I’ll grant you, but still home.

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

I got along with them as much as any quiet elementary school kid, rebellious teenager, and brash young adult got along with his parents. There was a lot of love there, but I did make it hard on them sometimes. Nowadays, we’ve sorta drifted out of contact. They don’t know I’m Push, honestly, and I’ve never really figured out how to tell them. It’s been…awkward sometimes at family gatherings. Leastways it was, before I had to do a runner. Still, things are good, especially since I do keep sending them postcards (through Michael, of course).

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

I don’t know, honestly. I haven’t seen them in person for two years. They’d probably be worried sick, or doing their best to help me…but until the day I die, I am never bringing them into this. Too damn risky.

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

One brother, joined the Gear City Police Department. His name’s Rafael, since my parents liked the names of the angels. Weren’t really applicable to us, seeing as how we were little devils when we were younger. He and I got along pretty well growing up, though we competed in damn near everything. Once I became a hero, well…more than once I saw him when I was “on the jobâ€, even saved his life at one point. Dunno if he ever picked up on the fact that Push and I were the same guy, though we often mused on who that strange scarfed man might be. Yeah, I’ll admit I took some inner amusement watching him try to figure me out.

What was your birth order in the family?

I was the eldest. Granted, it was only by a few hours, but I’m still older, damnit!

Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do?

Raf’s still working for the GCPD, last time I checked. Apparently he’s got the hots for this one homicide detective, but since she’s got the nickname “Ironsidesâ€, I think he might be a bit outta luck there.

Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged?

I sorta stay in touch, sending my regards to them through my off-and-on postcards. Mike sends me news about ‘em every so often as well, so I’m not completely out of the loop. Which, when you think about it, is a bit comforting.

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

Love my family, no bones about that. Well…except for this one uncle who annoys the heck out of me. I might take just a little tiny itty-bitty bit longer to save him if he got in trouble. Just a tiny bit. (He mumbles something about dangling Quinn upside-down when he was a kid.)

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

That’s…a tough one. My dad’s always been there to pick me up when I fell down, and my mom’s always been there to put a bandage over the scrape, but I sorta gave that up when I struck out on my own. Really, the only mentor figure I have now is Mike…and yeah, I’d call him a member of my family after everything he’s done for me.

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

No, no real black sheep. I mean, I might be called that if they find out about my side occupation as a hero, but that’d probably be because of the anger from not telling them.

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

Not as far as I know, honestly. I’m not much for family-tree type stuff.

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’m…let’s just say I had an interesting experience back in Gear City that put me off…interesting women for a while. Maybe one day when all this is over I’ll find some nice hero girl and settle down to have some little hero kids…but I dunno. I’ve got a lot of enemies out there, and any kid I’d have would probably inherit them, so...yeah.

What type of person would be your ideal mate?

Oh dear Lord…ideal, I dunno. If I ever do look for a partner…well, I guess I’d be happy just with someone who’d love me, just be happy to see me when I walk through the door. Damn, Mike, did that sound as sappy to you as it did to me? Ugh.

Relationships

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

Well, there’s Mike who’ve I’ve mentioned often. Met him shortly after that exploding factory gave me these…kinetics. Though since he’s going to be the one who’ll probably be watching this, I’d say he knows most of the story. Picked me up after the exploding factory, gave me room and board for a while until I started working for him, then he took rent out of my paycheck, and…uh…helped me keep my head on straight after I found out I had these powers. He’s a stand-up guy, Michael Sharpe. No doubts about it.

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

I’d say Mike, for the same reasons given above. Stand up guy who put me back on my feet, kept me from losing it, even saved my life a couple of times. And yeah, we keep in semi-regular correspondence, though I gotta be careful. I swear, AEGIS is probably reading my mail.

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

Technically, I already have gone missing. Gabriel Quinn already disappeared, and I know my parents are worried (though Mike keeps telling them I’m just on a road trip to get my head on straight). If Push disappeared, I know Mike’d be worried, and AEGIS’d probably start hunting me again…truth be told, I don’t think many people besides them’d care if I go down. Which is why I’m making this journal, I guess, so people know who I was.

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

Yes. Long story. Gave up dating for a while. Long while. Still haven’t started again.

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

Used to think this one guy, Professor Wyrd, was my bitterest enemy. He’s one whacked-out scientist…well…I think he’s a scientist, but he’s got some wonky gonzo magic he says he can mix with his tech. I’m not sure if I buy it, but he’s done some really crazy stuff before. He and I sort of had a semi-rivalry back in Gear City, he’d try some crazy plan, I’d shut him down, he’d escape from prison again…though he’s never actually tried to kill anyone, only…â€improve†things. The problem being his improvements would only cause more chaos. In his own way, he thinks he’s a hero…and honestly, I’d like to see him reformed. He’s a genius, in his own way, if he can only bloody get his head on straight. Annoying as frak, though. But eh, pot, kettle. The one I would call the most bitter, though…Mr. Scratch. The man who framed me. Who murdered an entire museum’s worth of people, and pinned it on me. Who sent me on this nightmare chase. Yeah. He’s my bitterest enemy. And I will find him one day. Count on it.

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

Wyrd usually finds some way to cause havoc, though he never moves directly against anyone. He’s not vindictive or vengeful, honestly, to him, if a plan fails, that means it probably never would have worked in the first place; so he should move on to the next one. Scratch, though…I have no idea what he’s planning. Yeah, I’m tracking him, but once in a while some nasty beast of Old Night’ll show up, hunting me. And more than once they’ve said “The Grey Man†ordered them to hunt me down. So…I honestly don’t know. Maybe it’s all a game to him.

What is the worst thing someone has done to you?

Go on the internet, type in Gear City Museum Massacre. That’s pretty much the worst.

Where do your loyalties lie? In what order?

My loyalties lie to my family, my friends, and myself. In that order, exactly.

Who or what do you trust the most? Why?

Michael Sharpe, no question. And a couple of heroes I’ve met here in Freedom City. Folks like Dragonfly, Dead Head, Ironclad, Warlock…I wouldn’t trust them with my personal secrets, but I’d damn sure trust them to have my back in a fight. Solid folks, them, real heroes. Though Dead Head still creeps me out a bit, no offense if you’re watching this, DH.

Who or what do you despise? Why?

Scratch. Criminals who harm kids, or old folks. The undead, demons, anything of Old Night that tries to hurt people. There’s…a pretty long list.

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

I admire self-reliance in a big way. Loyalty to one’s friends too. The ability to look at evil and spit in it’s eye rather than surrender. And a sense of humor. Too many heroes these days go the whole overly-serious route. I mean, come on, we’ve got crazy powers granted by who-knows-what, fighting villains who wouldn’t look out of place in a Broadway show. How can’t you laugh at that? I’d like to think I’ve got most of those traits, myself…but I’m not that great at introspection.

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

Treachery. Egotism. Disregard for people less fortunate. Recklessness. I’ve got a lot of the second and fourth sometimes.

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

That’s…a tough one. Like I said before, the lines between Quinn and Push are, well, blurring. I’ve kept my side career hidden from my parents, but I also haven’t really done anything as Gabriel Quinn. Michael knows who I am, though. As for why…well, I’ve heard enough stories of villains who track down a hero’s family. Cliché, it’s true, but better safe than sorry.

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

Eeeh…that’s a hard one to answer. I used to think I was better flying solo, considering the nature of my abilities, but some…things here in Freedom City have made me…rethink that. I’d say for now that I can work decently in a group, but I’m way more a follower than a leader.

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’m not. And I don’t think it’s likely that I ever will be, I’d rather not give Scratch any more targets. The occasional team-up is alright, but a permanent group? Asking for trouble.

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

No.

Personality & Beliefs

Who are your heroes?

I’ll go stock answer and say the Freedom League. They’re everything Michael wanted me to be as a hero, and I do admit I’ve got a lot of respect for them.

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

Never really had any heroes to be disillusioned with, so no.

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

I…this is a hard one to answer. On the one hand, being a hero is equal parts painful, frustrating, annoying, vexatious, I’m always being interrupted when I’m doing things I’d far rather be doing, I’ve got these crazy powers (of which I have NO idea how they work), I deal with the absolute nuttiest people, my life’s been constantly turned upside-down and sideways…but then on the other hand, I see the smile of some kid who just watched me hold up a building so his parents could get out, or I hear a thanks from some poor shmuck who I just busted out of some villain’s crazy plan. Then it all seems…better. Frankly, I’d rather not be a hero, I’d rather be an ordinary guy working at Lazarus Auto Repair. But I am a hero. And if I was given the option to change, well…I probably wouldn’t.

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

Maybe if my powers were taken away from me, I’d retire. Or hell, maybe I’ll settle down after I take down Scratch. But no, I can’t see anything that’d make me switch sides. If not because of Mike’s disappointment, then the mental image of my mother watching me hurt people on TV. That’d be just…wrong.

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

Short-term goals? Bring down Scratch as fast as possible, get the L.A.I.R turning a profit instead of just in the black, visit home without AEGIS watching my every move, and finally have an uninterrupted lunch.

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

Have brought down Scratch, definitely. Working from a new and improved L.A.I.R, maybe make it a bit shinier. I…don’t know if I’ll still be doing the hero thing. Time’ll tell on that score.

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

. . .I…I’ve got plenty of nightmares, yeah. Scratch finding my parents. Scratch finding Mike. A repeat of the massacre. Except this time the zombies attacking me are people I know. Nobody’s tapped that fear yet, thank God. But if they did...moving on. Yeah, next question.

Is there anything you would give you life for?

My family. My friends. Saving another person’s life. Taking down Mr. Scratch. There’s not a lot about my life that’s worth living for besides those.

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?

I’ve lived out of the back seat of a car, wearing the same clothes for months, and worrying simply about where I’m going to get my next meal. Yeah, I’m very conservative with money nowadays, and I like having it. Not to the point of robbing banks or taking bribes or anything, though. As for the rest…yeah, it’s a mark of success to me to have wealth, it implies you’ve got the wherewithal to earn it. And I may be conservative, but I’ve got no qualms about picking up the tab for burgers or chili after a bust with some other heroes.

How do you generally treat others?

Eeeh…if it’s a villain, sarcasm and snark until I’ve arrested them. If it’s a hero, respect and a bit of wariness. And some snark for them too. I generally try to be decent to people, but I have a habit of slipping sarcasm into my everyday talk, which can get annoying to people. I just can’t help making observations on things which seem slightly absurd or humorous, and not everyone has my sense of humor.

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

That’s…generally a case-by-case basis. Dragonfly, I owe her big-time, and I know she’s got a few skeletons in the closet like me, so I trust her a bit more than a few others. If nothing else, I always know where I stand with her. I’ve trusted Nick Cimitere with what happened in Gear City, and he’s a stand-up guy (creeps me out sometimes, though), and if Dead Head ever asked…I might tell him. I need allies, I know that for a fact. But…it’s hard to let people in. I’ve worked on my own for two years, seen some pretty bad things. I really don’t want anyone to go through what I’ve gone through. So I’d say yes and no to whether I’m a trusting person. And no, it hasn’t been abused. Though I do worry sometimes.

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

As Gabriel Quinn, I was a very introverted person. I spent more time up to my elbows in oil and grease fixing things than talking to people, actually. But Push…he’s a lot more gregarious, probably comes from meeting so many heroes in this line of work. I carry myself with a lot more self-confidence as him. Or I did, for a while. It’s been hard getting that same self-confidence back after two years, with all the screw-ups I’ve made.

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

Generally wondering why the hell they’re talking to me, followed by “DANGER DANGER RETREAT ACHTUNG†once I remember what happened last time. I also let my mouth run a bit, though I’ve managed to rein that in a bit.

What are your most annoying habits?

I talk too much, and I have an unfortunate habit of using sarcasm and snark in everyday conversation. I just have a hard time overlooking that which seems absurd or laughable, really.

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

I try not to judge people before meeting them. Though…I do have contempt for anyone who uses magic like Scratch does. I may not know jack about the subject, but I’ve met enough heroes who use magic for good purposes, and I’ve fought enough ersatz sorcerers who just want to cause mayhem or gain power with it. If you’ve got power on that scale, you damn well don’t abuse it.

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?

Ohhh…sandwiches. Big, piled-high with cheese, onions, mushrooms, lots of meat like beef or pork, fresh-baked buns…hoagies, dagwoods, monte cristos, subs, gyros, I. Love. Sandwiches. Especially hot ones, with gravy. Cardiovascular feasts of doom! But no peppers. I hate peppers. Seriously, I despise peppers. And yeah, if I’ve got a really nice big sandwich, I’ll take my time to enjoy it. Which makes it very irritating sometimes, as hero work doesn’t leave lots of time to enjoy my sandwich.

What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

It’s a bit un-American, but my preferred alcoholic drinks are vodka and sake. Never liked the taste of beer. As for non-alcoholic…hot chocolate, not coffee, and iced tea.

What is your favorite treat (dessert)?

Cheesecake, coffee cake, and ice cream sundaes. Ironic, considering I hate coffee, but you haven’t had coffee cake until you’ve tried my mother’s coffee cake.

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

Considering I felt first-hand what it was like to nearly starve before I met Mike, I very rarely refuse food nowadays.

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

Blue, actually. Though I am fond of red (it’s the scarf). I dislike yellow, don’t know why, it’s just irrational.

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

Hmm. I love jazz music, trance and some classical, but I generally judge song-by-song rather than by genre. Though I can’t bloody stand country music.

If you have a favorite scent, what is it?

The smell of new car, or the scent of a just-repaired engine.

Do you have a favorite animal?

I’m partial to cats, but that’s only because I met so many strays before I met Mike. I’m thinking of bringing one to the L.A.I.R, but I don’t think I can afford the upkeep yet.

What is your most treasured possession? Why?

My scarf. It was made by my mother, after all. And my motorcycle, the first vehicle Mike and I assembled together at L.A.R.

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

I will admit I’m very fond of my creature-comforts, but given that I spent a few years on the streets before I moved in with Mike, that’s probably not surprising. Never been camping or anything like that, though, so I don’t know if I’d enjoy it or not.

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

Several, mostly involving villainy or anything that’d disappoint my parents or Michael.

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

I…I’m not sure where I stand on spiritual matters. I’ve seen a lot of metaphysical things, demons, monsters, even an angel once. I don’t attend church or anything, though…but yeah, I believe in God, it’d be hard not to considering I fight his opposite number’s minions a lot. Whether or not he’s got a plan for me or anyone else…I don’t know.

Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special?

Personal experience. And a lot of it.

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?

No, I don’t. My parents were very religious people, but they didn’t push it on me or my brother. Granted, Rafael attended church with them, but I always was finding other things more interesting to do. Dunno if I regret that or not now, actually.

Could you kill? Have you killed?

Yes. No.

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

Seeing those zombies pile onto me in the museum, and realizing after the fact that if I wasn’t careful, that could be my family or friends. I will not let that happen.

Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they?

I don’t think it’s permissible to kill. I know sometimes it has to be done, but I don’t think it’s permissible. If you slay another human being in cold blood, the consequences must be taken, even if the circumstances demanded it be done at the time.

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?

Unknown or enemy, I’d find the scum who did it, kick their ass up between their ears, and hand him/her over to the police. If it was a friend, I’d do the same. And knowing the few friends I have as I do…they’d probably want me to.

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

Track down the guy who did it, make sure he has a really bad day, then retrieve the item.

How would you react to public humiliation?

Fairly well, seeing as how I’ve been the receiver of it in a big way once before. Though the humiliater would have a very, very bad day afterwards.

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

I’d mourn. If it was purposeful, I’d find the scum and give them the beating of their life. If it was accidental…I guess I’d find who’d done it and find out what happened. I’ve heard about some new approaches in the justice system towards that end, reconciliation and so on. I’d like that if it’d work. And no, it hasn’t happened to me.

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

Murder. Harming children. Framing someone for a crime they didn’t commit. And I think the reasons for those’d be apparent.

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

Write out a will, go home and visit Mike and my family, confess my identity to Rafael and my parents, eat a really big honkin’ sandwich, then take on the most powerful villain I can find in one last hurrah. I’ll die on my own terms, thanks.

Career & Training

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

Self-taught, through a lot of experimentation, hospital visits, and building repair. Mike was awfully tolerant of that, thank God.

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

Nobody taught me, though Mike helped me get a handle on it. We muddled through eventually.

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

Aside from being able to manipulate movement energy, throw kinetic bolts, and hammer buildings down without breaking a sweat? And…I’m still not sure how I acquired them, really. As far as I know, it was from one of Wyrd’s machines exploding and me getting caught in the blast radius, but other than that…

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

I run the Lazarus Auto and Industrial Repair, fixing vehicles, occasionally doing custom jobs, paint and engines, y’know? Never thought I’d be an entrepreneur when I left college, but it’s worked out pretty well.

What is your preferred combat style?

Hit it as hard as I can, as often as I can, with everything in my arsenal, until I find what works. Then use that until they go down.

Have you ever received any awards or honours?

No, not in the sense of medals or ribbons. But if you’re asking about honors…Before I bolted from GC, I was once given a picture by a little girl, of me blasting this jerk with a knife who’d held up her mother. She didn’t know who I was, or how to find me, so she just watched TV and waited to see where I’d appear. Then she’d run there and see if she could catch me before I booked. That little girl did that for…three months before she finally gave me that picture. It’s framed and on the wall in my library now. And I’d consider than an honour, wouldn’t you?

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

I’d really like to refine my control of my abilities, as well as work on my mechanical skills. Being around Dragonfly and Ironclad have really driven it home that I’m not as good as I thought I was with vehicles. I mean, I know I’ll never be as skilled as they are, and I desperately wish I was, but I know I’ve got my own abilities…so I can be content with that.

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 and learn, actually. Jealousy’s never been a part of my nature, mostly because with vehicles, you get something wrong, someone’s likely to get hurt. Or something could blow up. And all jealousy does is cause mistakes to be made, right?

Lifestyle & Hobbies

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

Wake up, have some breakfast (usually leftovers), head upstairs to the office and put off whatever paperwork I put off yesterday, head out on patrol for a few hours, come back, have lunch, either get to work on whatever vehicles I’ve got needing repairs or take a nap, then have dinner and head out for my evening patrol. Once I come back, I put off whatever paperwork I put off today for tomorrow, then hit the sack. It’s not much of a routine, so I don’t complain if it gets interrupted, actually. Except at mealtimes. Then heaven help whatever lowlife crook messed up my lunch.

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

Like I said before, I love fixing machinery. Mike’s addiction to comics sorta rubbed off on me too, and I’ve collected a few Freedom League back issues…oh, and I’m a big collector of books. Mostly trash novels, science fiction and fantasy, H. Beam Piper, Harry Turtledove, that kind of thing.

What do you do for fun?

Besides punching…err…blasting out crooks? I do a lot of reading, tinkering with a few devices I’ve pinched from Wyrd, tweaking out my bike and so on.

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

Yep, Mike and I put it together. Black wool cap, big brown leather longcoat, a pair of heavy brown work boots, black fingerless gloves, gray oversized sweater and black jeans.

How do you normally dress when not in costume?

Pretty casual. Blue jeans and sweaters, or sleeveless shirts when I’m working on a car. Wear the same boots, though, they’re just a real good pair.

What do you wear to bed most nights?

An oversized bathrobe along with pajama pants. Yes, more than once I’ve been woken up in the middle of the night by eldritch abominations, crashers, or hunger pangs.

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?

I’ve got my messenger bag, but that’s more for my gadgets than for valuables.

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

Local travel, I use my bike. Long-distance, I fly, but I’m working on talking AEGIS into sharing this nice piece of flight tech for my bike, let me conserve kinetic energy.

Miscellaneous

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

No, I haven’t made a will yet. Don’t really have anything worth leaving behind yet. Maybe once the L.A.I.R’s started making money, I’ll write one up and leave most of my belongings to my family and friends. I know Ironclad’d probably want this hammer of mine, heh.

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

The property damage around me might be a decent indicator, or the scarf. Or maybe the hammer, but other than that…eh.

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

Everything. Yeah, that I was a hero, but none of that “remember his best†bull. I heard a line on TV once, a cartoon, granted, but it resonated. Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds, along with the good. And let me be judged accordingly.

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

Yes, I do. I can overturn cars with a wave of my hand, level buildings without much effort, and I can tap into one of the most powerful forces on the planet. That, and I have an unfortunate habit of charging into things without thinking. Granted, I’m working to improve that, but I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I wasn’t who I was, or met who I’ve met.

What do you perceive as your greatest strength?

Glossing over my powers…I’d say it’s my ability to laugh in the face of the dark. I’ve looked at a lot of ugly things, demons, monsters, villains with grandiose plans, and none of them have really frightened or scared me personally. I worry for others, but not myself. And as long as a person has that, and the will to keep fighting no matter the odds…I’d say that person's already won.

What do you perceive as your greatest weakness?

I don’t think as often as I should before charging in headfirst, and I don’t plan ahead. Trusting my instincts is one thing, but I’ve seen first-hand that exercising more control gives better results.

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...

Mate, you’ve got a lot of power, a lot of responsibility, but you don’t think. Talk to people, make some allies, let some people in, ask for help. It’ll make things a lot easier, and a lot better.

[Quinn]

Power Ideas 1

The camera comes in on Push working in the basement, a car overhead on one of the mechanic's pit gaps. He takes out a rather expensive looking part, looks at it critically, then throws it behind himself off-camera with a crash.

"Idiots with too much money and too little brains driving cars where they weren't supposed to be going. Honestly. It keeps me solvent, but it pains me to see nice cars treated like that."

He picks up a wrench and returns to work, talking idly as he twists a bolt on the underside.

"Alright. After thinking back to the Stratford case, I've been re-examining my kinetic senses. While normally I can track movement energy on a subliminal scale, hence my ability to leech and throw, tapping into it actively as an ersatz x-ray vision seems to have worked far better than initially envisioned. With practice, I should be able to call it up at will without the unfortunate side effects of headaches or, worst-case...what was it they called it in that hospital...oh yeah, neural shock."

Super Senses 9 (Kinetic Senses [Tactile, Extras: Ranged, Extended 2, Counters/Penetrates Concealment) [9 pp]

He finishes tightening the bolt, looking at it with the same critical expression...then the bolt snaps off, and a stream of oil catches him right in the face. He slips and falls over behind the table, out of camera range. A muffled voice is heard.

"Ackph! Switch off! OFF!"

The camera fades to black as he hurriedly clambers up and starts working to patch the leak.

[Quinn]

Power Ideas 2

The camera switches on again, showing a recording of a heavily rearranged L.A.I.R, the floor of the upper garage being nearly completely bare. Toolboxes have been shifted to the sides, the metal shutters covering the mechanic's pit holes are closed, and no vehicles occupy the usual spaces. Instead, the concrete floor is occupied by Push, wearing his usual leather longcoat and hat and holding an industrial remote, with an automatic baseball launcher on the opposite side of the garage (the same type usually seen at batting cages and the line). Push takes a look at the remote, then closes his eyes, and the tell-tale warp/crackle combination of his personal kinetic field begin appearing around his body.

"Ok...February 24th, 2011, kinetic reflection test number one. So...uh...not that great at organizing my thoughts, really should've planned this out more beforehand...meh. Alright, so after connecting with one too many fists in combat and buildings while flying, I came up with the idea for a kinetic leech field similar to my paralysis, but a lot less direct. Basic principle is that any force being exerted on me is leeched, redirected, and stored in my body for later use, and so far it's been working out way better than expected."

He hits a button, and a baseball shoots out. For a moment, it seems to connect with his upper shoulder, then the camera slow-mos to reveal a small warp having intercepted the ball. The baseball seems to hang in the air several inches from his shoulder, then slow-mo stops and it abruptly drops to the ground. Real-time clock shows that it took about three seconds for the ball to hit, leech, then drop.

"Alright, that's working like it should. This field's been in use for about two-three years, so by now it's become pretty much instinctual. The field reacts with my body to any strike, leeching the energy from it and preventing the shot from hitting me with any damaging force. As of the last test, it'd take a shot...uh...probably proportional to a speeding car to blow straight past the field, and even then the force would likely be slowed enough for me to survive the blow. Ok, that's what it can do catalogued, so let's move on to the main event. After some reconsidering of my abilities, specifically the idea of my kinetic blasts, it's occurred to me that I might be able to expand my field to perform...other duties. This test is to attempt a possible tweak to the field, instead of redirecting the energy of the force into my body for future use, I intend to try adjust my field to redirect the energy immediately towards an opponent. Now granted, this would likely only work with physical objects, and I doubt I can redirect a fist, but if this works it'll open up a whole new spectrum of ideas with this kinetic field."

Force Field X (modified kinetic energy barrier; Extras: Subtle, Impervious x??, Reflective [Physical] x??) [??pp]

"So the basic theory here is that when the ball is fired towards me, the energy will be leeched from it, then applied towards the ball in the opposite direction. Like a slingshot, essentially. If the principles behind my paralysis and kinetic telekinesis apply here, I should be able to redirect it. If not, then hopefully the field will intercept the ball as usual. This'll likely take far more focus than the instinctive field, so testing in a controlled environment is probably best here. Should it be successful, I'll keep practicing with the idea...hmm...actually, with further refinement being made on the field, I might be able to reduce the signs it's actually up. Gah, gotta focus. Alright, test starts in five...four...three...two...one..."

The ball launches from the tube straight at Push, his face a mask of concentration. As before, the ball hits a warp on his chest, but this time it actually hangs in midair for a lot longer than before. A moment passes, two moments, then suddenly, the ball spins in the opposite direction, and goes flying away from Push. The kineticist's face lights up, and he lets out a whoop...right before he realizes the ball is moving way faster than when it was shot at him. It rebounds off the opposite wall straight towards Push, slow-mo cam revealing it's wrapped in a similar warp to his blasts. Slow-mo switches off, and Push dives to the ground as it whips through the air, bouncing here, there, and everywhere before it flies off-screen accompanied by a crash. The kineticist lifts his head off the concrete, and plants his chin in his hand, sighing.

"Well...that worked better than expected. And now I need a new office window. Just...great. Test complete, Gabriel Quinn signing off."

He hits a switch from his remote, and the camera switches off.

[Quinn]

L.A.I.R Upgrades

The camera pans over a half-trashed L.A.I.R garage, a busted-up Ford, all bent metal and leaking oil in one corner, piles of parts and tools spread here there and everywhere, scorch marks on the walls and on the floor, dents on the trapdoor leading to the basement, and Push, standing in the middle of the disaster zone. He picks up tools and parts, flinging them into either a dumpster or a toolbox. His face is pensive, distracted, and music plays from above while he works.

"Alright, so, new journal entry; concerning security upgrades and recent history. Man, I hate using that tone of voice. Doesn't sound proper if I don't, though. Neccessary evil? Bleh."

He picks up what looks like a fan belt, but torn in half. A low growl, and he pitches it into the dumpster.

"Start with recent history. So, I called up that mystic I ran into in Stratford, Nick Cimitere, a couple of days ago. Real decent guy, 'cept for the fact that he's addicted to the demon coffee, but nobody's perfect. Don't know why anyone'd take that, when you've got good wholesome cocoa on the boil. Anyway, had him over for a cuppa to discuss the page I managed to shanghai from those cultists a couple of months back. Said he found a lotta ugly things on it, part of an old folio the Vatican had roasted before I was born. So the warehouse owner was Webster, a cult was hiding out in it, and they just happened to have found some ancient piece of paper with a nasty Germanic ritual on it. Either Scratch is getting sloppy, or he's leading me on again. Bet big money it's the latter."

He stands, dusting off his hands, and leans on the dumpster. He's visibly tired, as if he hasn't slept in a few days.

"Anyway. Party crashers showed up, pack of demons with more 'tude than brains taking their marching orders from you-know-who. Not sure why the hell...heh, the hell, not sure why he keeps sending these dime-a-dozen mooks after me, he knows full well I keep punting them back through their portals. Still, without Nick, this one'd probably not have ended so well...damn, what I wouldn't give to see inside that maniac's head."

He rubs his eyes, returning to work. Parts start flying from a pile with surprising accuracy into the containers.

"Moving on, Eri...Nick and I punted their demonic butts back to the pit that spawned 'em, but it did a number on the place. As you can see. It's become painfully obvious that I've really let security around here get lax. Heh...Michael'd really kick my butt if he knew. Back home he always had a whole pile of security systems up, homemade and store-bought. Even managed to kitbash a whole bunch of Wyrd's crazy junk once he figured out the incantation, though he blew up a few worktables getting to it. But aye, I've not been thinking about security here. Gotta step up with that."

Push steps back from the now-diminished pile, reaching around one container and bringing a steaming mug into view. He sips from it, visibly relieved.

"Original systems were built up by Ironclad and Warlock, concealed stun-rays and net launchers in the basement, along with wards around the building. Garage itself doesn't have any concealed weaponry, didn't want it interfering with any equipment. Stupid mistake, would've made it easier to deal with the demons if I had. I'll contact the two of them again, have them over for dinner and discuss souping up the system. Maybe see if Dragonfly's willing to throw in...Dragonfly...I swear, that girl's as driven as I am, driven on something...aah, not my place to speculate. Out-and-out genius, no doubts there. But that she's left her bike practically untouched even with all that intellect...cryin' shame, that. Really should invite her over sometime, get her opinion on the vehicle work, try and get her out of her shell. I do owe her big-time for the warehouse."

He sips again from his mug, looking ashamed, but sobers quickly.

"Ironclad and Warlock too. Cute couple, wonder how long they've been dating. Too bad I've got no idea how to turn on that cleaning robot she built me, but when a plasma burner's involved...I reeeally don't want to be messing around with something like that. Huh...maybe I'll ring up Dead Head too, see if he wants to take a run with me through the sewer route right beneath. Only mapped it out to the opposite alley, after all; really should find out where the tunnels below stretch to."

Push puts the mug down, ticking off on his fingers as he muses aloud.

"So...if I'm upgrading security, I'll need to have a more permanent computer set up downstairs. Maybe shift it into the library and amp up the defenses outside of it, make it a little less likely to be seen in the mechanic's pit. A whole computer bank would be useful, actually, along with more cameras and alarms, better locks for the doors...ooh, maybe a communications array. Can probably requisition that from Kent, though it'll be bugged all to hell. Could link it in with the commlink, I already know that one's bugged, listen in on more waves, maybe even be able to contact more heroes in a pinch. Or distress calls if the L.A.I.R gets attacked again. Gotta amp up the defenses all over, though. Fresh wards, get 'clad to throw more of those stun-rays and net launchers into the garage walls, maybe even a stasis module for what the nets can't snag. Reinforce the basement, I can do that one myself. Steel plating in the garage floor, definitley, and harden the concrete walls. More AEGIS tech, maybe? Should talk to Kent about what I can requisition period, if they want me to help, I might as well be as useful as I can be. And I have, have to get them to work a little magic on the L.A.I.R's cover story. New tax forms, building history and the like. Didn't think of that beforehand, and I should've. Aaaah...Mike's going to kick my butt when he finds out I let all of this slide."

Headquarters Upgrades:

Cover Facility

Communications

Security System +2

Defense System +2

Toughness +5

Push shrugs, moving towards the pile again.

"Ah well, can't complain about the past. I do that often enough anyway. Gabriel Quinn, signing off."

The camera fades to black as he stubs his toe on a part, and a flurry of curses ends the recording.

[Quinn]

Thoughts - Other Heroes 1

The camera comes on as Push is in the library below the garage. A half-eaten sandwich is sitting beside him on a coffee table, and he seems to be looking musingly at the books on the shelves while he speaks.

"6:47 PM, March 6th, 2011, journal entry...frak, lost count. Eh. Journal entry, concerning other heroes."

He paces, his words a bit less certain than previous entries, and slower. As if he's still coming up with words, or slightly confused.

"Back in Gear City, superhumans were pretty thin on the ground. I mean, I know about myself; and there were a couple of others kicking around that I ran into a couple of times. The trick was, the city was big enough that we pretty much could go a year's worth of patrols and see each other only...once, twice? Hell of a lot different here in Freedom City, that's for sure."

He stops by one of the squashy armchairs, ponders sitting down, then moves on to another bookcase. Taking a book down (the author's name reads H. Beam Piper), he thumbs the spine briefly before putting it back.

"Already ran into a couple here, decent folk, if a bit...off. Make that very off. Figure here'd be a good place to put some thoughts on each of 'em if Mike ever gets a look at it, know who's safe to give the whole nine yards to if I haven't done that already."

Push takes the seat this time, and picks up his sandwich. A corresponding picture of each hero pops up in the bottom right corner of the screen whenever he starts mentioning one, each with it's own quirks.

Nick Cimitere - photo shows Nick in full eldritch fury, holding down a pack of demons attacking the L.A.I.R with ethereal hands.

"So, Nicky. Ran into this guy back in Stratford during the Vigourie case, first sight of him was in a police station. So...not the best first impression. Still, guy's got Power with a capital P. Uses a lot of hinky stuff, though, reminds me a lot of Scratch during the rare times I caught a glimpse of him before he left. Difference being, the personalities are diametrically opposite. This guy's straight-up, honest, real hero-type. Only guy in Freedom City besides AEGIS who knows who I am and where I came from, along with who Scratch is, and he's promised to back me up against the warlock. So yeah, I trust him. Well...a bit more than I trust anybody, but yeah. Only flaw is that he's a coffeehead. Bloody caffeine heathens..."

Victory - photo shows Victory standing beside a spaceship, talking to a military man while Supercape stands half off-frame.

"I've got mixed feelings about this guy. On the one hand, he beat the tar out of me and brought me in. That rankles a bit, and I'm not gonna lie that I wouldn't mind returning the favor if the situation permitted. Not that it ever will, but it's nice to dream. And on the other hand, he's a genuinely nice guy. Helped save the world from a giant meteor, and he didn't say anything about our little chase, which was pretty decent. Ah hell, if things were different, he'd be the kind of joe I wouldn't mind buying a beer for."

Dragonfly - this photo looks like it was copied from a YouTube video, the caption at the bottom being "Twenty Questions with Rick Voyeur"

". . .Ok, now she's someone I really can't figure. Met her twice so far, but she...puzzles me. First time was dealing with those cultists at the Waterfront, when I...well...accidentally knocked her out with my first shot at that hammerquake. Damned relieved that she was alright afterwards, but I really owe her big for that. Don't know if she realizes it though, and I'm not sure if I should be happy about that or not. I guess the only word I'd use to describe her is, well, eccentric. But in a strangely endearing way. I get the feeling she's gone through as much as, if not more than I have, and I know for sure she's got some skeletons in the closet. Eeeh...then again, so have I. Still, the girl's a bloody genius, and that tech she carries proves it without a doubt. Heard she's working for that Lab up in Hanover now, I do wish her well."

Dead Head - this photo is looking down into the mechanic's pit of the L.A.I.R, the Revoltin' Revenant hauling some junk over and throwing it off-frame.

"Now, I'm going to get the obvious out of the way. This dude, he creeps me the eff out. I mean, he's a walking zombie! Rotting flesh, separating parts, and I swear I saw a bug walking out his ear one time. Not to mention I've seen a lot of zombies over the last few years, and to a man, they've been trying to turn me into lunch. But this guy...he's different. Probably one of the most decent folks I've met here in Freedom City save Nicky and a couple of others. I mean, he's nice, he's funny, hard-working, even talked to him for a bit about why he does what he does. And I gotta say, he's a bit more heroic than a few other heroes I met during my tour of the USA. He's one of the ones at the top of the list to give the heads-up to if I go down, and...yeah, if he asked, I'd probably tell him the whole truth. Like I said, though, creeeeeeeepy. Seriously."

Push seems to ponder briefly before picking up his sandwich and taking a big bite out of it. Munching thoughtfully, he shrugs and picks up the plate.

"Anyway. That's enough for this entry, I think. Got some work to do on Lazarus now that AEGIS finally gave up those parts. Cheers to whoever's watching this, and if it's one of the people I just talked about...eh, you know me. Gabriel Quinn, signing off."

He winks at the camera, which switches off abruptly.

[Quinn]

"Security Tape"

This option actually isn't visible, save a small icon in the bottom right corner of the screen that can only be seen if you go frame-by-frame on the opening menu. Tapping this option brings up a password block and a virtual keyboard below it. Using the remote to punch in the right letters, "A-n-a-s-t-a-s-t-i-a", brings up a small clip of Push, sitting in his chair in the library. His face isn't pleasant, and neither is his voice.

"Anyone who knew that password is someone I'd have trusted to see this video; the truth of what happened in Gear City that night when I met Mr. Scratch. I've buried this as best I could with the limited knowledge I've got of these things, to ensure that only certain individuals see it. Anyone who views this video will see exactly what I saw that night, when I entered that museum to stop what I thought was a crime-in-progress. From here on out, you'll know just as much as me. I'm guessing whoever's watching this is probably planning to chase Scratch himself, or intends to try. To whoever that is, I'll leave the choice of whether you want to see it up to you. It's a dangerous road, and he's always one step ahead of me. If I didn't catch him, then I hope you'll do better than I did. Good luck."

The video stops and two options pop up; View, and Exit. Hitting the Exit button brings the viewer back to the main menu. Hitting the View button brings up this:

A grainy video appears on screen, viewed as if through a security camera. The scene was pitch-black, only a few outlines on the floor actually visible. There was a shattering sound, and a beam of light came in from up above as a figure in a long coat and a very identifiable red scarf fell from the top of the screen and landed on the floor in a crouch. As he stood, another light appeared near a glass case...and a man was standing there. The video's quality is too poor to make out the face of the man near the glass case, but his outfit was quite unique. A well-cut suit, a top hat, and a walking stick that for a moment shined at the tip; diamond. Black spats were on his feet, and immaculate white gloves. In short, a very dapper gentleman, quite out of place in that kind of situation.

Some dialogue, very hard to make out, but still audible, crackled through the lousy TV's speakers.

"You got thirty seconds to put your hands on your head and surrender, or I swear by the almighty I'll kick your ass up between your ears."

That voice was easily identifiable as Push's, and his hands visibly started to glow before the camera. The gentleman stepped away from the case, and the odd light seemed to follow him as he paced around Push, speaking in a dry and laconic voice.

"How graphic. Still, your timing is impeccable, I'll give you that. But your manners leave much to be desired...no introduction? No witty banter? I confess myself disappointed."

"Twenty seconds. You've racked up a body count. Consider yourself lucky I didn't fire first."

"You wouldn't have. You're too new at the game, Mr. Quinn. Always wanting to make sure you see the villain's face when you bring him down. For I am the villain of this piece, no?"

The on-screen Push rocked back as if struck, but he recovered quickly.

"You said my name. You said you were disappointed...who the hell are you?"

"A man of great consequence. Call me...Scratch. It flatters my ego thus."

"Well, Mister Scratch, you're a long way from New England."

"Ah! So there is some literary knowledge in that mind of yours. Perhaps you are not quite as hopeless as I initially envisioned. A shame our conversation must be cut short so."

Push's head tilts, and he keeps his stance wary.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Why...your thirty seconds are up. And I must attend to buisness elsewhere. Though I have little doubt we'll meet again, Push...very little doubt at all."

The camera catches a glimpse of a wide, sharklike smile, and the man in grey disappears into the black. Push moves forward as if to intercept...and the bodies on the ground start stirring. Then they stand. Lights begin to sporadically switch on here and there, as more corpses around the room begin to get up, and move towards Push, shambling and moaning. He turns to look every which-way as they bear down on him...and the lights go out. Flashes of warped air begin to appear in the black, explosions and thuds, along with grunts of pain and the dulcet tones of battle...before one warp connects with the camera, and static erupts on the screen.