Terrifica

[EternalPhoenix]

Table of Contents

 

20 Questions (coming some day!)

HellQ (Look down!)

Rep Chart ( >This way, please! )

Edited July 31, 2014 by EternalPhoenix

[EternalPhoenix]

Hell Q

Everything but the last question was answered by Samantha Carson on the condition that it be kept beyond Top Secret.

Introduction

Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence.

I’m the kung-fu fighting super genius who’s simply terrific.

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

I’m not certain if this is what you meant, but only my aunt calls me Samantha. Everyone else calls me Sam. I never asked them to, however I do not dissuade them either. It makes no difference to me. Just don’t call me late for dinner. Love that one.

What is your full birth name?

My birth name? No one’s asked me that before. It’s Qiaolian Song. It was changed when I was a child to Samantha Carson.

Where do you live?

My home is in Boston, however I am the designated conference goer of the science department. That means whenever one of the professors cannot go to one of their vitally important conferences, it’s my job to go in his-and it’s always his-place.

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

You’re not going to believe me. No one does, at first. I’m twenty three years old.

Physical Traits

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

I’m a woman. Qiaolian and Samantha are female names. I thought that would be obvious.

How would you describe your heritage?

Again, Qiaolian and Samantha. I’m Chinese and English. Very much a mixed breed girl.

How tall are you?

I’m five foot four. My costume adds three inches, however.

What is your body type?

I would describe it as delicate. I do have a build similar to that of a professional model, however I wouldn’t characterize myself as that beautiful and I get far more exercise than most of those girls.

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

That does sound like you’re referring to physical disabilities. No, I have none, aside from a slight lactose intolerance.

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

I don’t know how to answer this. I’ve never thought about it. I just walk. My husband is looking over my shoulder. He says I’m confident and graceful. I say what does he know? He tromps around loud enough to wake the dead.

Describe your skin, eye, and hair color.

I’m a Han Chinese/Anglo-Saxon hybrid. My skin is a few shades darker than ivory, my eyes are darkest brown, and my hair is...chestnut? I need to research color names again. It’s somewhere between chocolate and auburn, at any rate.

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

I don’t wear my hair in any particular way. My husband likes it just below my shoulders, so that’s the length I maintain. Otherwise I keep it clean, well conditioned, and combed. Assuming, of course, the wind doesn’t decide to ruin my work. Ah, and I don’t have bangs. They make my face look too small.

Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others?

I’d consider that an insulting question, except you likely haven’t seen so much as a photograph of me and thus have no idea what I look like. I’d certainly say that I’m above average. My husband says I’m the most beautiful girl in the world. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

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

It’s a cliché these days, but my body is a temple. I have no tattoos or piercings. My younger childhood was fairly active, so I do have some shrunken marks on my knees and elbows. And of course, there’s the dark splotch on the right side of my neck, just before the jugular and carotid.

Do you resemble anyone famous?

If I have to listen to another drunken freshman telling me how much I resemble Lucy Lui, Ming-Na Wen, “that anime chick, you know the oneâ€, or“that girl from that kung-fu movie, hiiiiyaaa†one more time, I am punching him in the throat and damn the consquences. I do not resemble any of those people, no matter how Asian they are. That said, there is a singer I liked during my hyper Asian phase in high school. Ayumi Hamasaki? Back then I’d like to think we had at least a passing resemblance.

Do you have a dominant hand?

Yes. I am right-handed, like the majority of people on this planet.

What kind of clothing do you wear?

I don’t quite know what is meant by this question. I wear clothes. If you’re talking about a personal style, I do abhor sweatpants and most forms of pajamas. Additionally, there just something about a nice long coat that makes me feel extremely cool.

Do you wear makeup?

I do, in fact. I wear it to work, and the odd social obligation. However, it’s just a tool to enhance one’s appearance. My costume covers most of my face, so I don’t bother outside of work.

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

Hmm. I should research the proper term for it. What’s the term for not too high, not too low, and can be taken seriously with minimal effort? I can tell you that I don’t have the distinctive Bostonian accent. I’m told that I speak somewhat quickly, as well. I’d characterize it as saying each syllable with precisely the amount of time it requires and no longer.

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?

Well, I do like things to be in order, and rules to be followed. It’s entirely possible that I take that a bit too seriously at times. I have been called too uptight, and anal retentive. It’s just that when you reason it out, there is a perfectly logical and reasonable way to handle most situations in life. It is rather frustrating when the rest of the world seems to be blind to this truth. My husband’s professional opinion is that it’s obsessive compulsive disorder. I respectfully disagree.

History

Where do you come from?

I was born in China, in the south. It was a very rural area at the time, and it still was when I left at age twelve.

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

As I just said, I moved away from China when I was twelve. This was after my parents disappeared. My father’s aunt, Cassandra, sent for me. She lived in Boston at the time, and aside from a few nights spent at work here and there, I’ve stayed. Aunt Cassandra moved down to Florida a few months ago.

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

I am loyal to the United States over China, as their communist style of government is incompatible with freedom of choice, only of the principles I hold in high esteem. With that said, I am no more a patriot than the next American and honestly the government is filled with idiots. Every aspect could be far more streamlined and efficient, and that’s without my unending disappointment with who gets elected to political office. They’re either stupid, lazy, or cowardly. It’s unfortunate. There are exceptions, naturally, but there aren’t enough to handle things properly.

How do you feel about the place you come from?

China is China. It’s both a wonderful and terrifying place. The ancient past and modern day exist virtually side by side.

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

I’d really rather not dwell on China much longer. Boston has been good to me, however. It’s not quite like the movies, but then again no city is like it appears on television. So to speak.

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

There isn’t exactly an abundance of Asians in Boston or its environs, so I did stand out. Even now, outside of science circles I’m highly likely to be the only one in the room. There was some culture shock, but in the end I think I’ve acclimated nicely.

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

Something I’ve always been really good at, you ask? Try virtually everything I’ve ever put my mind to doing. I am a supergenius, after all. Of course, I’ve tried very hard not to show that I’m anything other than an ordinary genius. It might give away my secret identity. That said...I’m a thinker. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. So things that require clearing your mind and purposefully not thinking I struggle with.

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

Of course. This question. Every hero has one great tragedy that drives them. Naturally, I’m no different. I mentioned my parents disappeared when I was eight and living in China. My father was a Christian missionary, and my mother was a member of his congregation. You can fill in the rest. When they were out spread the good news, they left me at a local Buddhist temple. One day they didn’t come back for me. There isn’t much more to it than that. I’ve done some research and it turns out my mother was murdered at the local party boss’s orders. Why, I couldn’t find out and my father disappeared without a trace. It took four years for my father’s aunt to learn of my existence and then track me down.

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

At the time I didn’t know it, but watching my parents leave for the last time or rather, when Aunt Cassandra informed me they had vanished. Although, I admit I realized they weren’t coming back about a week after they were supposed to come and get me. There’s a difference between “out there somewhere†and “gone without a traceâ€.

What stupid things did you do when you were younger?

Have you not being paying attention? I’m a supergenius. I don’t do stupid things. I never have.

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

I’ll assume you mean college. I have a master’s in education from Boston College and a doctorate in physics from MIT. I partook in several other tracks along the way as well. There was chemistry, geology, engineering, sociology, and just for fun, advanced calculus. I enjoyed my studies very much. Science is fascinating. I suppose you could say that I have a bit of a background in everything. I’m aware it sounds somewhat ridiculous, and if I were a normal genius it would’ve been quite impossible. Fortunately, I’m me, so that was enough for things to get difficult. Unfortunate as it is, I do need to eat and sleep at regular intervals, or my performance will suffer.

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

I have just one. A necklace from Abbot Yang. For four years he was both father and mother to me. I will forever be grateful to him for that. He helped me understand my place in the universe.

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

Now there’s an interesting question. It’s true that I could do anything to help people and change the world for the better. Most of those things would be safer, as well. It’s got nothing to do with protecting the weak, helping the helpless or some other such cliché. I’m fully capable of revolutionizing a given intellectual field in less than a year. Non-intellectual fields would take somewhat longer. My body learns far slower than my mind, unfortunately. With that stated, what gives me the right to do so? I know how I operate. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right. Even if I make everyone currently working in that field virtually obsolete by comparison. I’d be ruining lives for the sake of progress and my own self-aggrandizement. It wouldn’t be right. So I thought about it. It’s the longest I’ve ever thought about anything.

The more I thought about it, the more a normal career seemed impossible. Did I have no choice but to be a tyrant, lording my superior intellect over the masses whether I liked it or not? No. I refused it. Then at last I realized it, and for the first time felt like a fool. The Sherlock Holmes approach, updated to the modern age. And unlike Doyle’s creation, I need not wait around for cases to come to me. Crime cannot be eradicated without violating the freedom of choice I hold so dear, however it can be controlled rather effectively with a Terrific plan and some well time police intervention.

Put simply, I could do anything I put my mind to doing. However, I would be stealing someone else’s hard earned success from them. Perhaps in some cases, such as curing diseases, I could be forgiven by others. But never by myself. Let the glory go to someone who will work hard for and enjoy it. That said, success earned by outlawed means is by definition stolen, and thus the possessors have no right to it. Therefore, I can take it from them. The ones law enforcement has difficulty catching, at any rate.

I can do better than that. I fight crime because I cannot take success from those who have earned it.

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

Naturally. I usually take the “to fight evildoers†approach. I do this because I don’t want to deal with that “Oh, that must so hard for you†attitude.

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

Of course I do. Doesn’t everyone? Well, aside from the boring ones?

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

Among most people, yes, I certainly do. I don’t want to make anyone feel inferior, unless they actually are. Compared to the average person, not me. So I’m just an ordinary genius to everyone I meet. In truth, I find it quite satisfying to be underestimated. Gives me a thrill just like wearing a long coat.

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?

The genius thing isn’t that big of a deal. People just look at me differently. It’s unpleasant. I’m the same as I was before you learned I make you seem like a drooling invalid. As for the deep dark items, anyone chasing after them will soon learn that crossing me is the stupidest idea anyone will ever have. I protect what is mine.

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

No, and I find the question itself insulting.

Family

What are your biological parents' names?

My mother was Meili Song. My father is Lucas Carson.

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

Do we really need to go through this again? I was raised by my parents until I was eight, when they disappeared. Abbot Yang took care of me until I was twelve, when my father’s Aunt Cassandra brought me to Boston.

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

As I said before, my father was a Christian missionary. My mother was a farmer’s daughter in rural China. You could say their standing wasn’t exactly high.

Where are your parents now?

Again, as I said my mother is dead. I have seen the photos and read the brief document. My father, however, has vanished without a trace. I cannot find him no matter how hard I look.

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

It depends on your definition of moving around. We did stay in the same general area, though never in the same place twice in a row. After their disappearance, my home was static.

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

I’ve never met either set. My father’s died before I came to America, and my mother’s refuse to admit I exist.

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

I do not know. My powers had not yet emerged, so my memories are fragmented and incomplete. I know I was loved, and well looked after. They were kind and generous people. Beyond that, I don’t know anything. I am still in contact with (master) (name). He approves of my husband, but I haven’t said anything about my heroic activities. I’d like to think he would approve, but I know better. Too much violence in heroics for that. Auny Cassandra barely approves of my existence, much less anything I do.

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

I am an only child. Fortunately.

What was your birth order in the family?

First, middle, and last all once.

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

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

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

No. Only my Aunt Cassandra is left on my father’s side, and my mother’s family regarded for her foreigner husband and foreigner ways got her killed and caused trouble for the entire town. They’re not worth contacting.

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.

I wouldn’t know. I’ve stayed far away from the disapproving WASPs that are the Carson family, and the cowards that are the Songs.

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

To my knowledge, I do not have either.

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

I do. In fact, I’ve mentioned my husband several times already. His name is Stan Gresham, and he’s perfect. Well, I suppose another woman would find him wishy-washy, or perhaps too laid back. He’s effortlessly charismatic and persuasive, as well as sensitive and considerate. I’ve never met anyone more patient, either. This won’t do. I’ve given the impression he’s a doormat. A charismatic doormat, but a doormat nonetheless. He’s frighteningly perceptive and the most unafraid person I’ve ever met. He’s the strongest man in the world. From his position over my shoulder, he says he’s not. I say he’s too humble for his own good. Oh, the hell with it. I love him, and that’s enough for me. Ah, right. He’s twenty eight years old, a psychologist by vocation, and works out of our home for the time being. His hair is sandy brown, and his eyes are hazel. I think he’s handsome, but he always demurs. I swear, if the man had a catchphrase, it would be “I’m nothing special†or something similar.

We have two children. Lucas just had his second birthday, and Meili is ten months old. A bit rapid, I know, but apparently in addition to being a super genius I’m also a super breeder. Now I’m on birth control, so there will be no more pleasant surprises. Yes, they have my parents’ names. Meili was intentionally named after my mother. However, Lucas was also the name of Stan’s mentor and is named in his honor, not my father’s. Lucas is immensely and endlessly curious about the world around him. He walks, he talks and of course, he’s adorable. Surprisingly, he looks more Chinese than I do. Genetics. Meili can talk, somewhat, but she seems to prefer to listen and watch. What’s interesting is that she speaks in Mandarin. I do speak it around the house at times, but I never imagined she’d pick it up so easily, and prior to English.

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?

There’s a firm maybe later on more children. Two appears to be quite enough for the moment.

What type of person would be your ideal mate?

I married him already. Sorry, boys. This supergenius is taken.

Relationships

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

Well, I have kept in touch with the old gang from the temple. Or rather, got back in touch after I turned eighteen and could do as I pleased. They used to get into so much trouble. Let’s see...Ai Jiang is a model/actress/singer in Hong Kong. The Shao twins (fraternal, fortunately), Longwei and Guang, are attending separate universities in Beijing. Longwei favors communications, but Guang is going to be a doctor. They were younger than the rest of us by two years. Xue Yi is living in San Francisco, trying to succeed as a painter. Lastly, there’s Shen Wei. I know he works in law enforcement, and he moves around quite a bit. I’d look into it, but that would be rude. Still, he always manages to find me when I travel to China, so that’s not so bad. I always find it astonishing that we all ended up far away from the temple. You’d think at least one of us would have stayed nearby.

Which isn’t to say that I don’t have American friends. I went through high school a bit too quickly for that, I admit, but I get along well with my fellow professors. Dr. Brown and Dr. Wright are always good sounding boards for ideas. Ah, right. I should specify. Dr. Brown is a African American man and a fine mechanical engineer, even if he’s beginning to get truly old. He’s somewhat cantankerous, but more in the vein of a teddy than a grizzly. Dr. Wright is a Caucasian woman, and the finest mathematician I’ve ever met under fifty years of age. She’s a bubbly one, with endless energy.

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

I do, in fact. Dr. Benjamin Beardly. He is the science department chair at MIT, and does a fine job of looking out for me. He’s quite personable, but about as interested in romance and sex in general as I would be in a full frontal lobotomy.

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

My husband Stan, of course. Benjamin. Dr. Wright would worry herself into her bed.

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

I did have a crush on Shen, back then. I don’t know if that counts.

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

No, I don’t really have any enemies...wait. There is Maven. I’ve tangled with him a few times now. I wouldn’t call us enemies, but I’ve never heard of him combating any other heroes. He’s a strange one. I intially thought he was a supergenius like me, but the evidence contradicts it. Instead he seems to be more of an intuitive savant at whatever he puts him mind to. He’s an excellent shot and a capable hand to hand combatant. He keeps saying that he’s trying to make me a better hero. By way of robbery, assault, and homicide. I don’t understand at all. It’s extremely distressing and I’d prefer not to dwell on it.

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

Oh, by the heavens. Maven doesn’t work against me. He sets up ridiculous, non-sensical puzzles, and I have to solve them and catch him. In the process, things are stolen, property is damaged, and people are harmed.

What is the worst thing someone has done to you?

Aside from having my mother murdered and my father disappeared? Then both side of my family reject me? The Songs outright out of fear, and the Carsons because I’m a taint on their precious blood? Everything else seems to pale in comparison.

Where do your loyalties lie? In what order?

Stan and the children are first. I am second. Friends are third. It descends from there.

Who or what do you trust the most? Why?

My husband, Stan. He’s never lied to me, and never been worse than grumpy. Most of all, he listens to me. Even when I know I’m not making any sense, or I’m discussing something he doesn’t have the scientific background to understand.

Who or what do you despise? Why?

This one is simple. The Song family, for being cowards. And the Carson family, for valuing their pasty white purity over a orphan.

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

You’d expect me to say intelligence, but anyone can be smart. I value people who think and reason, instead of just talking just to talk. Thinking before you act is a vital life skill that painfully few people appear to possess. Of course, this is what I do so naturally I’ll value it highly.

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

Loudmouthed idiots, and those who are proud to be stupid and ignorant. It is not a thing to be proud of. It is a thing to be corrected to the best of your ability. I cannot stress that enough. I include those who deny outright proven science. You are wrong, and I hate you.

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

I do. Stan knows. I’d never lie to him or keep secrets from him without telling him they are secrets and thus I can’t tell him. I do plan to tell the children when they’re old enough to understand.

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

I can work well on teams and in groups just fine. One can’t be a proper academic without that skill. That said, I choose not be a leader in the frontline sense of the term. I’m a mastermind, not a flying brick.

Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them?

I am not currently on a super team. Even if I was, my secret identity would remain secret. No one is allowed to know but Stan. No exceptions.

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

I am a member in good standing of Mensa. However, it’s only to say that I am. Honestly, they’ve lowered the bar in recent years, and by the heavens, the ego in that organization. It’s not everyone, mind you, but enough. I do frequent a small Buddhist temple in Boston, and I try to attend a Christian church when I can. The former is to honor my upbringing, and the latter is because I think my father would appreciate it. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at either religion.

Personality & Beliefs

Who are your heroes?

A lot of people will drop the Centurion here, and be on their way. Or perhaps Midnight, Lady Liberty, or the first Raven. Me...my heroes are different. My heroes are men and women who weren’t afraid to stand up for equal rights, and were strong enough that violence wasn’t their first solution to the problem. Susan B. Anthony. Gandhi. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am a fan of Sun Tzu, as well, and Machiavelli. Their approaches are...interesting.

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

No. I never have. People are flawed, and I accept that.

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

Like it? That’s a tad simplistic. It’s an endless challenge. It’s not always pleasant. Pain is a near-constant. I don’t know why anyone would like being a hero, generally speaking. That said...I do love a challenge. And there’s something about rescuing people. The looks on their faces. It’s...nice.

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

The only thing that would make me quit at this point is catastrophic injury to myself or Stan. Someone has to take care of the children. And I suppose if the Moore Act made a comeback, there wouldn’t be much a difference between sides. After all, there wasn’t much of one when it existed in the first place.

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

Well, I have my children. I have my husband. I have a job I enjoy and I have an outlet in crime fighting. There’s nothing else to accomplish inside of a year. Aside from general things like improving my skills and knowledge, but those are givens. My ego does require to admit I’d like to earn a bit more respect in the hero community. Not that I’m disrespected, mind you. I’m just a relative newcomer at this point.

And as ever, I want to find out what happened to my father.

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

A nice comfortable retirement? I joke. Assuming I’ve raised terrific children, I’d like to get them into a good university. Being one of the most famous heroes of all time would be nice. Getting tenure would be just excellent.

But really? I’d be satisfied with solving my father’s disappearance and not having turned into a terrifying supervillain.

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

Anyone who threatens my friends or my family will soon wish they had not done so.

But if you’re referring to something I can’t do anything about...losing Stan. I...I need him around. I don’t think I’d be a very good person without him.

Is there anything you would give your life for?

By the heavens, no. Don’t be ridiculous.

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?

Money, like many other things, is a tool. It exists to be used. No more, and no less.

How do you generally treat others?

What kind of question is this? I treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings. Until one, they prove they don’t deserve it, or two, they request I stop doing so.

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

I am, in fact, not a trusting person at all. I just keep it to myself. I am VERY careful about who I give my trust to, and thus it has never been abused. There is a significant amount of people who would stab their mother in the back if it suited them, and one can’t always identify them on sight or even basic interaction.

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

You’ve mischaracterized introversion. It’s got more to do with thriving on solitude and wilting with others. Extroversion is the opposite. Someone who is shy and withdrawn may simply have an anxiety disorder. And it’s a spectrum, not one or the other. That said, I am more introverted than extroverted. I prefer my books and my husband to any wild parties. That said, I’m perfectly comfortable in small social gatherings, and I adore public speaking. It’s being in a large crowd that makes me uncomfortable.

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

The same way I act around anyone else. That said, I am married, not dead. And I’m far from old. I will admit to nothing else. Not one thing. No.

What are your most annoying habits?

How should I know? Does anyone know?

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

Didn’t we cover this before? The arrogantly stupid and/or ignorant. They make me feel homicidal. End of discussion.

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?

The ideal lunch? Barbecue pulled pork sandwich, with coleslaw and a bowl of clam chowder. I...may have spent every spring break in college in Myrtle Beach, just so I could eat it daily. The place is gone now, sadly. Breakfast? Strawberry French toast, with sausage links and a few strips of real bacon. I make it myself. Dinner? Rump roast with potatoes and carrots. I do this thing with garlic and a few herbs...fantastic. Stan’s fried chicken is the food of the gods.

Oh, and the less said about how much pizza I eat, the better.

What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

It’s a stereotype, but I adore herbal tea. I even have my own blend. The science department is rather hooked on it, I must say. I don’t drink alcohol, really. A glass of wine, if the occasion calls for it, but no more. I have to stay lucid and in control. And if I have to go a morning with my glass of orange juice, the day will not go well. For anyone.

What is your favorite treat (dessert)?

Oh, a better topic. Chocolate. Oh, by the heavens, chocolate. And cheesecake. And a good cream filled donut. Oh, and fresh baked blueberry muffins. It’s a wonder I’m not fat. Ooh, right. Rice pudding, with raisins.

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

I find most seafood repellent. I won’t even eat canned tuna fish. Weirdly, I’ll eat shellfish, albeit in soup form. Something about the spices, I suppose.

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

Well, this is grade school questioning. Don’t be mad, I like it. I like orange and there’s no color I particularly dislike.

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

I don’t really have a music preference, actually. Unless the sound of nature waking up in the morning counts. I don’t like music that substitutes profanity for substance. It simply isn’t necessary. You can have profanity, but if that’s all there is then what is the point?

If you have a favorite scent, what is it?

There was a small orchid garden at the temple, and ever since I’ve always loved the scent. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially for younger, more carefree days.

Do you have a favorite animal?

No, not at all.

What is your most treasured possession? Why?

The necklace from Abbot Yang. I mentioned it earlier. I can’t get out there to see him. Restrictions on tourists visiting China. So all I can do is remember him. The necklace helps.

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

Why on earth would anyone enjoy insects and sleeping on the ground like an animal? It’s patently ridiculous. I can live without electronics just fine. I’ll light a candle and read some of my books. However, I do require proper shelter and a decent bed. It’s only proper.

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

Well, I’d never be a prostitute or an assassin. Other than that, as long as there’s an acceptable reason, I don’t see why I’d refuse to do anything. Aside from eat seafood. Yuck.

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

I do. I guess you could call me a Christian-influenced Buddhist, but that’s still not quite right. At any rate they’re the thing that created the moral quandary that led me to become a hero. So you could say they’re very important to me, yes.

Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special?

Abbot Yang and my father. Buddhist temple abbot and Christian missionary, in case you forgot already.

If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization?

I don’t belong to any one organization, no.

Could you kill? Have you killed?

I could never kill. It’s the worst thing I could ever do in my life. I wouldn’t be me anymore if I were capable of it. And so rather obviously I’ve never killed anyone in my life.

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

Abbot Yang’s teachings. All life is sacred and worthy of existing.

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

Well, there’s obviously self defense. And anyone who’s a danger to society who can’t be kept in prison. Or be put there in the first place. If ending one life saves two more, it’s almost worth it. Needs of the many over the needs of the few. And...there are monsters out there. Biologically human, but there the resemblance ends. Even stripped of their ability to kill, they can still be dangerous and it’s best if they simply die.

Of course, every rule has exceptions.

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?

If the person being killed met my requirements, I wouldn’t bat an eye. If the person didn’t, I’d save them. That’s what heroes do, isn’t it? Who the killer would be makes no difference to me. They’d need to be arrested afterward, as murder is a crime, but other than that...

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

I’d get it back, and make very sure the thief was punished.

How would you react to public humiliation?

I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I’d work to regain my standing. The villain responsible would bitterly regret it later. That’s about it.

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

Aside from my mother? No, it hasn’t happened. As I said about being stolen from, I’d track down the perpetrator and make very sure they were punished. Though...accidents are accidents. I can’t say I’d forgive, but I could treat that person just like everyone else.

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

Based on what I’d said so far, you’d expect me to say murder. That isn’t true. There are worse things you can do to a person than murder them. Rape, torture, and maiming come to mind.

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

Believe it or not, I have a plan for that. I’d distribute all the ideas I’ve come up with on solving various things over the internet, tie up the loose ends at work, say goodbye to the old gang, and then spend the day with Stan and my children. I’d keep the last of it from them, though. I wouldn’t want to scar them. The last thing I’d do is...well...cry. I don’t want to die, you know. I really, really don’t.

Career & Training

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

I don’t quite know what you mean. I have mentioned the kung fu master at the temple, haven’t I? Master Wong? No, I haven’t. Sorry about that. I practice at a local dojo weekly. I don’t count beating up thugs as practice. Their form is terrible and it’s much too easy. My knowledge I gained myself through study and practice.

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

I did. My relationship with myself is fine, thank you.

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

I wouldn’t say I can do anything particularly unusual. Unless being able to do just about anything counts. I’m extremely versatile.

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

I’ve answered this before. I’m an associate professor of physics at MIT. I’ve had a few minimum wage jobs, like many teenagers, and I don’t plan to have another job...ever, really. There’ll be promotions, naturally, but I enjoy teaching and the curriculum is demanding of my students. Their despair is most delicious. I joke, of course.

What is your preferred combat style?

Not at all, if I can avoid it. If not, I’ll use the Terrifi-Staff on with the mean surprise of being better with my fists up my sleeve if I’m disarmed.

Have you ever received any awards or honours?

Does graduating summa cum laude and being valedictorian of my Boston College class and my MIT count? Because otherwise I haven’t.

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

All of them. I’m still young, and I have much to learn about anything and everything. And don’t be silly. There isn’t anything I can’t do.

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?

Er...both? I try to stifle the former and exaggerate the latter, but all the same. It’s not an easy thing to take. I am very good at everything, after all. That said, it’s good to have one’s ego deflated now and again. Keeps one from doing something...ill-advised.

Lifestyle & Hobbies

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

Shared shower with Stan. Mind out the gutter, please. The hot water is limited and we both like long hot showers. OJ with breakfast, then off to work. Morning classes. Lunch and office hours. Afternoon classes. Office hours, again. Briefly. Home for my costume and dinner. Patrol for a few hours, and then back home for some sleep.

Disrupting shower time is just mean, as one of us has to take a short cold shower. Without my OJ, nobody’s having a good day. Nobody. My classes can be covered by my TA or Benjamin on occasion. I can skip office hours now and again. And I can function on five hours of sleep or less for a day or two. That said...it’s really annoying. Oh, and I don’t work weekends. So I spend work time at home, doing any number of things.

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

I could go on for pages. I do a little bit of everything. I like to make things. Machines, potions, food, birdhouses, you name it. I also like to solve puzzles and riddles. Unfortunately, most of the ones commercially available are a bit too easy. Not easy per se, but not challenging enough. Fortunately, there’s crime for that problem.

What do you do for fun?

Puzzles, riddles, and brainteasers. I read, too. It’s...a little hard on my budget.

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

I do have one. I made it myself. It’s dark blue and appears formfitting, even though it’s just thick. It covers me from head to toe, only leaving from for the bottom of my nose, mouth, and chin. A wide orange stripe runs down the sides of both arms and both legs. There is an orange T on the mask’s forehead, with the bottom line sliding between her eyes. Sometimes I’ll wear a long coat or a short jacket over top. The coat is simply the same shade of dark blue. The jacket shares the suit’s color and stripes, and has a small orange T over the left breast.

How do you normally dress when not in costume?

I have several outfits, but I don’t wear denim, sweat clothes, or anything that goes higher than the top of the knee. Except shorts, and those don’t go above mid thigh. And I don’t do skin tight, either. I need to be able to move freely.

What do you wear to bed most nights?

Well. That’s personal of you. I decline to answer.

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

I wear my wedding ring, and I have a pair of diamond earrings Stan bought me. My few pairs of earrings are all fake gold. Not rich, you know. Because of all the book buying.

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

Yes. A safe I made myself. Well, the lock anyway. It’s not uncrackable, but it’d take a master to do it.

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

Stan has a nice sedan. I have a motorcycle. That’s it. I’m partial to trains overland, but planes are so much faster.

Miscellaneous

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

I do have a will. Everything goes to Stan. Unless he’s dead too. Then it goes to Benjamin. If not him, then it splits among the old gang. Lucas and Meili stay together, though, and do NOT go to Aunt Cassandra or the Carsons.

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

Oh, this one I’m proud of. I have a radio ID chip stitched inside the lining of all of my underwear. The same kind they use for pets.

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

I don’t know. A good and loving wife, a good and loving mother, a good professor, and a simply terrific hero, I guess? I don’t think about this very often. Or at all. What I would like has no bearing on what will actually happen.

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

I do believe so. I’m not a active threat, but...there’s a part of me that’s impatient. Tired of hiding my light. Wants to impose my superior will and intellect on inferior humanity. Then there’s the flip side, me wanting to solve the world’s problems with my own two hands. Like no one else could possibly be of any help. Tyranny of good, and tyranny of evil. Both are tyranny, and it’s so easy to slip on way or the other.

What do you perceive as your greatest strength?

My mind, obviously. Anyone can fight. Not anyone can think. And nobody alive can think like I can.

What do you perceive as your greatest weakness?

It would be profoundly arrogant of me to say I don’t have one. That said...I’m drawing a blank. Things that require reacting on instinct instead of thought are a weak point of mine, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a weakness.

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...

That’s the thing. Terrifica wouldn’t listen to me. She doesn’t listen to anyone but Stan. Even then, it’s a slightly chancy thing. Even if she knew that I was essentially the God of her universe, she is a woman who sincerely believes that by virtue of her intelligence alone, she knows what’s right for her.