X-Men/X-Changed, The Characters

What If?

Giant-Size X-Men 1
Birth of the "New X-Men". The original X-Men, together with Havoc and Polaris, have traveled to the island of Krakoa but of all the original member only Cyclops has returned and he remembers nothing of the experience.
To safe his students Professor X sends out a telepahtic message to seven mutants:
Nightcrawler,
Thunderbird,
Colossus,
Sunfire,
Wolverine,
Storm,
Banshee
The new X-Men where born. they safed the original Team and took their place as the worlds Nr. 1 Mutant superheroes. With time some of the original member returned, while new member joined or old ones left or died.

But what if it had all been different?
What if Charles Xavier had not called on these seven for help? Even at that time there where dozens of suitable candidates around. What if he had called your characters instead?
A game of all new, all different X-Men.
Will others take the same steps as Storm and the others did? Or will history change. Will Sprite join the team? Will the Phoenix Force find its host in Jean Grey? If Angel isn't around, who will become the first rider of Apocalypse?
Will you be able to stop Magneto? Will Charles Xaviers dream ever be the same?

And what of Storm, Colossus and the others? If they are not called by Professor X and never become X-Men, what will they do? Will Nightcrawler even survive the witch hunt that's after him? Will Storm stay as a godess in Africa? Will Wolverine lead Alpha flight?

History has changed!
Xaviers call for help went out then his students vanished but this time others answered:
-Shadow (M), who can transform his whole body into darkness
-Soulforce (F), the psychic Alicia who still wrestles with her multiple personality disorder
-Flex (M), the teenage powerhouse with the disgusting power of adding flesh to his own mass
-Phoenix (M), who wields the destructive and healing powers of the mysterious Living Fire
-Gemini (F), a shapeshifter with the ability to copy others powers on sight
-Shar (F), a private investigator and inhumanly dangerous fighter
-Data (M), the living computer

Don't miss an issue of this exciting new monthly series!!!

Phoenix [Brandon Laine]
Secret Identity

Age: 21
Gender: Male
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs
Eyes: Amber, Burning Flames
Hair: Curly Blonde, to shoulders
Skin: Tanned

Nationality: American, Mixed descent
Current Residence:
Current Work: Former College Football Player, Out of work

Attributes: [Cost 28 pts.]
STR: 12 +1
DEX: 20 +5
CON: 14 +2
INT: 16 +3
WIS: 10 +0
CHA: 16 +3

Defense: 28 [10 + 5 Dex + 6 Power (Super Dex) + 1 Dodge (Feat) + 6 Purchased] [cost 12 pts.]
Initiative: +11 [+5 Dex +6 Power]
BAB: +3 [cost 9 pts.]
Melee: +4
Ranged: +8
Speed: 30’ / 40’ Flight

Damage: +11 [Same as Reflex (Evasion)]
Fort: +2 [+2 Con]
Reflex: +11 [+5 Dex +6 Power]
Will: +0 [+0 Wis]

Hero Points:4

Superpowers:
Super-Dexterity: 6 Ranks, Source: 2 Trained, 4 Mutation [Cost 24 pts.]
Regeneration: 2 Ranks, Source: Mutation, [Cost 4 pts.]
Energy Control: 8 Ranks, Stunts: Drain Energy, Energy Blast (free), Extras: Absorption (Boost to Healing, Flaw: Fire only), Flight [Cost 34 pts.]

Weakness: Disturbing (Flaming eyes, Occasional licks of Flame on his exposed skin, occasional uncontrolled burning of items) [-5 Bluff, -5 Diplomacy] [Cost -10 pts.]

FEATS: Darkvision (Heat Sight), Dodge, Evasion, Heroic Surge, Immunity – Starvation (Drinking, only if powered), [Cost 10 pts.]

Skills: [Cost 9 pts.]
Acrobatics +12 [1 rank]
Balance +14 [3 ranks]
Bluff +1 [3 Ranks, -5 Disturbing]
Computers +6 [3 rank]
Drive +11 [1 rank]
Knowledge
- Culture +4 [1 rank]
Open Lock +12 [1 rank]
Science
- Chemistry +5 [2 ranks]
- Nuclear Physics +4 [1 rank]
Sleight of Hand +12 [1 rank]
Spot +1 [1 ranks]

Possessions (worn): Light undercover shirt [actually thin protective armor to protect and hold in living fire], wallet, casual clothes.

Possessions: Brandon has an off-campus apartment near the college and has the typical furniture. Probably the best piece is his television. The frig is empty except for last night's carry-out, some beer, ketchup, and something he's not really certain what it was - now its just furry, and green.

Description: 21 year old human male, standing 6’2” and weighing about 200, with amber colored eyes and curly blonde hair that catches the light. Brandon is deeply tanned, but not just from being outside. His powers seem to keep his skin at the same tanned level year round. Brandon dresses in casual clothes while off-duty or in his secret identity (always wearing sunglasses when in public).

Personality: Brandon has learned to control the fiery temper that seemed to come with the powers. He is friendly, helpful, very competitive, and very outgoing. Deep inside, Brandon harbors a resentment for becoming what he is now and fear that there still may be people after him.

History and origin: Brandon Laine worked hard for everything he got in life, including a scholarship to college for both athletics and scholastics. The athletic scholarship was for football, a sport he excelled at in high school as a wide receiver. He earned a starting position on the team after red-shirting his freshman year. Brandon enjoyed the freedom and exhilaration of flying down the field, evaded would-be tacklers, and making the big play.

Unfortunately, the scholastics scholarship required on campus work. But Brandon attacked it with his usual zeal, he earned the position of lab assistant / TA to Professor Albert Vernister, a noted chemical engineer and theoretical scientist. The professor's current work, a more economical, self-sustaining and powerful energy source, had received numerous grants from outside interests. The professor worked off of campus property (the college insurance couldn't handle the risk) developing the energy source known as living fire. As an assistant, Brandon didn't know how it worked or why, he just did as he was told.

On a fateful spring night, Brandon was told to work late at the lab with Professor Vernister when several shady men entered the lab - bypassing the security. Men in dark suits and sunglasses comforted Brandon and the Professor and insisted that they turn over the secret of the living fire. Shouting denials, the professor tried to attack the men and the gun-fight ensured. A stray bullet hit something volatile and the resulting explosion knocked Brandon into the containment rods holding the living fire, breaking the rods and releasing the fire onto Brandon. The burning pain was intense and Brandon blacked out briefly. . . and then the pain went away. Brandon got up and looked around - seeing a destroyed lab and several dead bodies - and seeing his hand on fire! But it didn't burn. He saw a man in a dark suit at the doorway and charged him.

"YOU! You did this to me!" Brandon exclaimed as he pointed at the man - and fire shot forth incinerating the man. More than a little frightened, Brandon fled the lab with all of his well-honed speed . . . and tripped on the steps heading outside. He didn't fall though - he floated on the air. Fear turned to wonder, wonder to excitement as Brandon flew through the air - actually flew. By the time he came to his senses, there was no sign of the men in dark suits and the police and fire had responded to the blazing building.

The next day, Brandon was approached by someone who seemed to know everything that had happened. The hero helped him control his powers, with the aid of containment armor. His old life nothing but ashes, Brandon earned his new life - as Phoenix .

Through rigorous testing and examination, Brandon learned that he was also a mutant . . . which was the only way he survived the experience. He had the mutant powers of heightened agility and regeneration . . . as well as some ability to control fire. The ‘living fire’ either was living because of Brandon’s powers or was drawn to Brandon because of those self-same powers. The testing yielded no indication of sentience of the fires that burned within Brandon.

Through training, Brandon has discovered that by absorbing sufficient amounts of fire that he can heal with his touch . . . making his choice of codename even more prophetic.

Psyche [Alicia Emmrich]
Shattered Psychic

Psyche Secret Identity
Gender :Female
Age :19
Height : 5’6
Weight : 100
Eyes : Dark Green
Hair : Auburn

Power Level : 5 [75 total]
Known Languages : English, Latin, French, German

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Abilities [ 26PP]
Strength : 10
Dexterity : 16
Constitution :14
Intelligence :16
Wisdom :16
Charisma :14

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Armor Class : 18 [ BASE (10) + DEFENSE (4) + DEX (3) + DODGE (1)]

Flatfooted Armor Class : 14

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Save vs. Damage : Unsure
Save vs. Fortitude : 2
Save vs. Reflex : 3
Save vs. Will : 3


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Initiative Modifier : +3
Base Attack Bonus : +0 [0 PP]
Base Defense Bonus: +4 [8 PP]

Melee Attack Bonus : +0
Ranged Attack Bonus : +3

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Powers [32 PP]

POWER: Telekinesis [+5 pp per rank + 0/20 total] 4 Ranks
SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: Energy Blast, Force Field, Invisible
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None
-------------------------------------
POWER: Telepathy [+4 pp per rank + 0/12 total] 3 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: Group Link, Memory Alteration
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS:
-------------------------------------
POWER: None [0 pp per rank/0 total] 0 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: None
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None
-------------------------------------
POWER: None[0 pp per rank/0 total] 0 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: None
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None

-------------------------------------
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Skills [11 PP]

Name/Total Mod (Ability) ** # Ranks taken
Acrobatics /9 (DEX +3) 6 Ranks
Balance /8 (DEX +3) 3 Ranks (+2 Synergy Bonus from Acrobatics)
Knowledge: History /5 (INT +2) 3 Ranks
Languages: Latin, French, German, Greek /No Skill Check 4 Ranks
Perform; Violin, Flute, Piano, Guitar, Dancing, Singing /8 (CHA +2) 6 Ranks

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Feats [8 PP]
Attractive
Dodge
Photographic Memory
Psychic Awareness

Weakness: [-10 PP]

Transformation; When Alicia feels threatened her “Mistress Mind” persona will come to the front to alleviate the danger. A successful will check (DC 15) will strive off this change for one round. (The next round check gives an extra +1 to the check)

Base Speed: 30 feet

Costumes : Alicia wears the stylized “X” across her chest that has become so popular with the X-men.. The “X” forms the top of her costume with the neck and both arms above the X cut out. Her bottoms consist of a short skirt and a pair of boots that match her gloves.

Background: Alicia Emmrich grew up in a fairly well to do family in a quite suburb of Kansas City. Alicia lived in the same sheltered house in till her gradation from high school. After graduation she transferred into a dorms at Princeton University. Alicia had always been quite and shy but was also very friendly and when others it seems that they cannot help but being drawn to Alicia.

She never wanted the lime light or to become “miss popularity” but she was often forced into her either through her natural talents or through her mother constant pressure to be popular. Alicia simply wanted to have fun in the activities and hobbies that she liked, but she simply excelled at what ever she put her mind too. She was a dominant softball player, valedictorian for her high school class, she has an uncanny ability to play numerous instruments at a near professional level and through pressure from her Mom she managed to become the Homecoming Queen in her freshmen yeah, the Prom Queen her senor year something that still makes her blush with embarrassment to this day. Her mother’s pressure and her own popularity extended into student government where she had successful runs at treasurer, vice president and student president.

Though a very talented young lady Alicia never realized that her positive attitude was truly affecting others and the area around her and as talented and smart as Alicia was her mind was her greatest gift.

A powerful telekinetic Alicia’s power started forming during puberty but since everyone saw her as a truly gifted child that no one noticed the subtle progress as anything other than natural talent and experience taking hold. On the softball field she simply swung where she thought the ball would be and her powers made it their. She played a near errorless shortstop cause the ball never took an unexpected or unplanned bounce. Her musical performances where effected by her minds desire that other enjoy them. In the classroom her mind would read the answers from the other students and they would simply form in her head.

Alicia started out college with the same vigor and was the starting shortstop for the girl’s varsity softball team, and was also in the college’s orchestra while still maintained her straight A average but during her second semester tragic events happened that would forever alter her life without her ever realizing it.

No one except for her assailant, or assailants as no one truly knows what happened that night, realize that Alicia was the victim of a rape. Her terrified mind shattered in the incident and what was once her greatest gift was now broken and fragile. Unused with life with out her powers her grades dropped and her play suffered and she found it harder and harder face the world outside her dorm room.

The love that her father and mother has always shown her was not their during her true moment of need as they mistook problems to be drug related and simply disowned her rather than admitting to others that there miss perfect was anything but.

Unable to afford college, as her free ride had disappeared under her poor softball play and her poorer educational performance, and with no place to go Alicia was forced into the streets where she suffered from horrible nightmares, unaccountable loss of time and waking up in strange places with no clue how she had arrive their.

Luckily, professor X recognized her for what she could do and found her on the streets before more harm to her fragile psyche could happen. Now she spends her time in Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters healing her shattered psyche, learning to control the powers that where discovered by Charles Xavier, and trying to continue her studies. She often takes her lesions privately as she is still uncomfortable around her peers.

Personality: Alicia has always been shy and private but has regressed considerable since her psyche was shattered. She comes across as very timid, easily frightened and easy embarrassed as most of the time she keeps her arms crossed over her body obviously showing her discomfort and nervousness. She doesn’t trust her newly found powers or her own ability to wield them and she actively sees approval and reassurance in almost any action she takes.

Description Alicia stands 5’6 and though short is rather quite leggy. Her auburn hair is long in length and has a slight natural wave that makes it simple to maintain. As with most auburn colored hair it seems to be a solid dark brown in poor light and an almost fiery red in the afternoon sun. She wears her hair in simple styles that keeps the hair out of her face and hides the actually length but when let alone and let down it goes to her mid back. Heir eyes are a dark forest green that seems to carry a hint of kindness and friendship. Her skin tough naturally pale is quite healthy looking.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mistress Mind Secret Identity
Gender :Female
Age : Apparent mid to late 20’s
Height :5’11”
Weight :146
Eyes :Icy Pale Blue
Hair :Raven-haired black

Power Level : 8 [120 PP]
Known Languages : English

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Abilities [30 PP]
Strength :10
Dexterity :16
Constitution :14
Intelligence :16
Wisdom : 16
Charisma :18


-------------------------------------------------------

Armor Class : 20 [ BASE (10) + DEFENSE (7) + DEX (3)]

Flatfooted Armor Class : 17

-------------------------------------------------------

Save vs. Damage : Unsure
Save vs. Fortitude : 2
Save vs. Reflex : 3
Save vs. Will : 5


-------------------------------------------------------

Initiative Modifier : +3
Base Attack Bonus : +0 [0 PP]
Base Defense Bonus: +7 [14 PP]

Melee Attack Bonus : +3
Ranged Attack Bonus : +5

-------------------------------------------------------

Powers [76 PP]

POWER: Telekinesis [+6 pp per rank + 0/30 total] 5 Ranks
SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: Energy Blast, Flight, Force Field, Mental Shield
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None
-------------------------------------
POWER: Telepathy [+3 pp per rank + 2/14 total] 4 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: Mind Control
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: Mental Link
-------------------------------------
POWER: Mental Blasts [5 pp per rank/30 total] 6 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: Mental Assault, Duration: Sustained
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None
-------------------------------------
POWER: Amazing Save: Will Power [1 pp per rank/2 total] 2 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: None
- FLAWS: None
- STUNTS: None

POWER: Super-Charisma [1 pp per rank/2 total] 2 Ranks
- SOURCE: Mutation
- SPECIAL: None
- EXTRAS: None
- FLAWS: Limited: Attraction
- STUNTS: None

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Skills [4 PP]
Name/Total Mod (Ability) ** # Ranks taken
Acrobatics /8 (DEX +3) 5 Ranks
Balance /8 (DEX +3) 3 Ranks (+2 Synergy Bonus from Acrobatics)

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Feats [6 PP]
Attractive
Indomitable Will
Psychic Awareness

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Weakness: [-10 PP]

Berserker; The “Mistress Mind” persona is filled with savage anger and extreme rage that Alicia could not cope with and when free it’s a danger to all. At the start of each round of combat, the “Mistress Mind” must make a Will saving throw (DC 20). If the save fails “Mistress Mind” goes berserk. “Mistress Mind” loses any dodge bonuses to Defense and must take the full attack option as often as possible, only taking other actions to get into range of potential opponents. “Mistress Mind” does not snap out of the berserk state until all potential opponents are defeated. Then the player may make another Will save (DC 20). If it fails, “Mistress Mind” will attack an ally or bystander. “Mistress Mind” gets a new saving throw each round, with a cumulative +l bonus, to come out of the berserk state. A successful Diplomacy check (DC 20) by an ally who tries to calm down “Mistress Mind” she gets +2 bonus on the Will save, but a failed Diplomacy check or Will save makes the character who attempted the Diplomacy check “Mistress Mind” next target.

Transformation; when “Mistress Mind” comes to the forefront Alicia immediately tries to reestablish her dominance after combat. A successful will check (DC 15) by “Mistress Mind” will strive off this change for one hour. The difficulty class increases by +1 each hour until Alicia reestablishes her dominance.

Note: Alicia cannot reestablish her control when “Mistress Mind” is berserk.

Base Speed: 30 feet

Costumes : "Mistress Mind”, wears the typical black leather lace up corset, garters, a black stiletto high heel shoes commonly associated with a dominatrix.

Background: Created by Alicia’s subconscious to protect her from the truth of a horrible act forced upon her Mistress Mind is a force of anger and utter rage.

Personality: Though she is capable of speech she really communicates with others and almost never speaks of her and Alicia past. When dominate she tries to do what will help Alicia the most but her rage makes this difficult, and mostly this leads to frustration for both persona.

Description Mistress Mind has raven black hair that is cut short and her eyes are an icy blue that shows truly just how cold her soul is. Her skin has a pale uncorrupted by the sun appearance that doesn’t look natural. Though attractive her cold demeanor hides this and most simply see a women who resonates a “too good for you” attitude.

SHAR
Real Name: Sharon McAllister (Semi-secret)
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 140 Pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Birthplace: New York
Occupation: Private Investigator
Team Name: X-Men

ABILITIES
STR 12 +1
DEX 18 +4
CON 12 +1
INT 12 +1
WIS 14 +2
CHA 14 +2

SAVES
DMG +1
FORT +1
REF +4
WILL +2

MOVEMENT
INIT +4
BASE SPD 30/60/120

COMBAT
BASE DEF 4
...DEF 18
...FLAT 14
...MENTAL 16
BASE ATT 4
...MELEE +8
...RANGED +8
...MENTAL +6

SKILLS
Balance [4]
Bluff [4/2]
Climb [3/2]
Concentration [2]
Craft [1]
Diplomacy [6/2] +2 synergy bonus
Disguise [2]
Drive* [6/2]
Escape Artist [4]
Forgery [1]
Gather Info [7/5]
Hide [6/2]
Innuendo* [6/2] +2 synergy bonus
Intimidate [4/2]
Jump [1]
Knowledge, Untrained [1]
Listen [12/2] +8 super senses
Medicine* [3/1]
Move Silent [5/1]
Perform [2]
Profession: Private Investigator [7/5]
Sciences, Untrained [1]
Search [13/4] +8 super senses
Sense Motive [8/6]
Spot [12/2] +8 super senses
Survival [12/2] +8 super senses
Swim [1]
Taunt [2]

FEATS
Track (can track target across terrain)
Attack Finesse (use dex mod. for melee attacks)
The following feats are linked to super-senses:
...All-Around Sight (Super) (+4 vs surprise, can't be flanked)
...Blind Sight (Super) (can use another sense as sight)
...Detect (Super) (detect mutants, spot (-1 per 10 ft))
...Penetrating Vision (Super) (can see through solid objects)
...Radio Hearing (Super) (can hear radio signals)
...Scent (Super) (can detect people, foes, etc. (dc 10))
...See Invisible (Super) (can see invisible targets)
...True Sight (Super) (unaffected by illusions)
...Ultra Hearing (Super) (can hear low and high pitched noises)

POWERS
Super-Senses [+8]
..extra: deflection [+8]
....stunt: catch [+8]
....extra: automatic [+8]

EQUIPMENT
Thunder Stick [+6S]
..stunt: stun [+6]
..stunt: energy blast [+6L]

COST
abilities [22]
base att [12]
base def [8]
skills [21]
feats [13]
powers [44]
weakness [0]
total [120]
unspent [0]

A Story of Sharon
The rain poured down, cold and hard. Here on the roof above the dark streets, she had no cover, but she didn’t mind. To her senses it was like music; every drop created its own sound, it’s own unique motion. In the darkness, it would be hard to locate the girl she’d been sent to find; but the rain would make it easy, at least for her. She closed her eyes and let her senses take in all the sounds of the rain and streets.

She couldn’t help smiling as she remembered Charles teaching her this trick. He’d kept her from going mad as her mutant gene forced her senses to overload. She'd stood on the roof of his mansion, with him watching from below, on a rainy night like this. “Your senses are not your enemy, Sharon. They are your allies. Now focus, close your eyes and tell me what you see.” Eyes closed, she learned to use her senses to see where others could not. She couldn’t be blinded or fooled by tricks of light and shadow. If she took her time, she could hear heartbeats.

Where you going, chica?

Yah, don’t ya wanna play wit us?

We could be good friends.

The scream of the girl and laughter of the thugs brought her out of her brief memory. She focused on the sound and stood, turning to get her bearings. It was nearby. Maybe two blocks at most, in the alley. She paused at the edge of the roof. I was easily thirty feet across the street. Cake.

She grabbed her Thunderstick from her belt and flicked it into its fully open form. With a running leap, she put its end to the roof and triggered an energy blast, propelling her across the street. She landed hard, tumbling across the gravelly rooftop. She paused and listened and felt with her senses again. The sounds of the alley flooded to her ears and she could feel the movements of the men within along her skin. The girl was there and they had her trapped.

One block. Faster, she thought to herself. She rushed to the fire escape, sliding down the ladder and landing with a soft splash. She ran down the alleyway and across the quiet street.

Four of them, she said to herself as she came up on the edge of the alley. She looked down the alley, breathing in the scents. Thugs, she thought, spotting the three thugs around the teenaged girl, but paying more attention to the leader hiding in the shadows. Just one gun, she thought, smelling the distinctive oil, even through the rain. Something pulled her senses to the girl. A faint blue glow surrounded the her.

“A mutant,” she whispered, not really surprised. It was the only reason Charles would have sent her. “Well, not a mutant yet, but soon,” she said to herself. She could see the mutant gene, even before it was active. A gift she supposed. It used to be dangerous. Her look would trigger it; she’d make a mutant come immediately to his or her power just at a glance. It was nearly always painful, sometimes fatal.

Charles had taught her to control that too, she remembered. “It’s amazing what you can see about a person if you know what to look for,” he’d told her. He’d certainly seen more than just a scared mutant in her.

“Don’t hurt me, please,” the girl pleaded.

She snapped back to the present again, looking down into the alley.

She ran into the alley, feet splashing in the water gathered from the storm. “He won’t,” she growled, planting her staff and leaping forward, kicking the closest goon in the back of the head, sending him into the brick wall with a crunch. He didn’t get up. The other two turned towards her, one holding the girl, the other pulling a gun. Shots rang out, but she didn’t flinch. Tendrils of force sprung from her, slapping the bullets aside even as they flew at her. She grabbed the man by the wrist, turning it until he fell to his knees in pain. He dropped his gun and she jabbed the end of her staff into him, triggering sudden energy pulse. He groaned and collapsed.

“Get lost,” she said at the man with the knife. He pressed it to the girls’ throat with a grin. She felt motion behind her. Another string of force leapt from her back, grabbing the bat just before it hit her head. She pushed back and slammed the bat into the head of the man who had swung it. “Let her go. Last warning,” she said.

“Or what, freak? I can slice her before you can do anything.”

It was going to happen; her senses felt it. The girl’s powers were manifesting. If the fool couldn’t see it, it wasn’t up to her to save him.

“Have you found her, Sharon?”

“Bad time to talk, Charles,” she replied.

“Don’t let her hur…”

“I know! I know!”

She sighed and made her staff collapse, hurling the now smaller weapon at the man with the knife. It struck him in the forehead even as the girl burst into flames with a scream. The thug fell backwards from the hit in the forehead and the blast of fire, but was not seriously hurt. Well, not fatally anyway. He’d definitely carry some scars from that. Charles wouldn’t like that part. She should have acted sooner. Oh well, another lecture wouldn’t hurt.

The girl collapsed in tears, her clothing burned away. Sharon hadn’t expected that. The rain beat down, extinguishing her flames. She recovered her Thunder Stick and holstered it. The goons slunk into the darkness, fleeing from the two mutants. Sharon poked the knocked out goon with her toe until he woke up. “Get lost,” she said to him too. Originality wasn’t her strong suit.

Sharon took off her long leather coat, kneeling in the inch deep water and wrapping it around the teen. She’s barely younger than I was, she mused.

“Help me,” the girl sobbed.

“I can’t,” Sharon said with sympathy. “But I know someone who can.” Police sirens sounded in the distance. She helped the girl to her feet and pulled her close. “Hold on to me,” she said, and led the girl out of the alley and down the street to where she'd left her motorcycle. Putting her helmet on the girl, she helped her on board. "Hold on to me," she said again, and the two rode off into the rain.

Later...
“What will you do with her?” Sharon asked. Her clothes were still damp, and her hair was starting to go to hell. She sighed and fidgetted with it in the mirror a moment, then gave up. She pulled her coat from the chair.

“Help her control her powers; give her a place to feel safe.”

“Same old, same old, hmm?”

“You did well in finding her so quickly, Sharon, though you should have been better prepared for her powers manifesting,” Xavier said to her.

She smiled, despite her mood. Some things about Charles were so predictable.

“I heard that,” he said with good humor. She shrugged. “Fine, no lecture tonight. You could stay, you know. I could use your help in finding other mutants.”

“You have my help whenever you need it Charles, you know that. Just like you know I won’t stay. I like my job. It pays the bills and I don’t have to fight mutants to do it.” She bent down and kissed him on the cheek before walking towards the door, pulling her coat on over her damp clothes. “You could call on me at home time to time.”

“Your home is here, Sharon,” Xavier said.

“You never give up," she said, smiling at him before becoming serious again. "I mean it Charles. If you need me for anything, just call. I owe you so much,” she said quietly, closing the door and walking back into the rain and her motercycle.

Notes: In this story, Sharon would have used hero points to accomplish some of her deeds. The 'flight' between buildings as a temporary extra of energy blast on her Thunder Stick. The bat strike a temporary addition of the 'reflection' extra to deflection.

Background
Sharon’s mutant powers manifested when she was a young teen. Her senses began magnifying. At first, doctors thought she had a mental disorder, and indeed, so did she. She was committed to a mental institution, where she was under nearly constant sedation. Her mutant powers became uncontrollable, with strange tendrils of force striking out at the nurses trying to inject her with drugs. But the worst came shortly after her immunity surfaced. Upon looking at any person who had a latent mutant gene, the person’s powers exploded to the surface. This was nearly always painful and damaging to the person in question, and in the case of a nurse at the institute, fatal. After the death of the nurse, someone at the institute called on Charles Xavier.

He took her from the institute and trained her to control her abilities. After a year of near total seclusion, they finally managed to control her gene activation power. Slowly, he helped her learn to use her senses, and control her strange tendrils that reacted often against her will or knowledge.

When she turned 18 and graduated from school, she attended the police academy. She graduated with honors from the academy and was a police officer for three years, when her mutant abilities became known. She left to avoid the building anger that was being directed at her and formed her own private investigation business. She has worked at that ever since, helping Charles whenever he calls on her services. She specializes in finding runaways, and he has called on her to find mutants several times.

Description
Sharon is an attractive woman with a strong build. From her appearance, you can tell she takes good care of herself. When working, she dresses in simple clothes; jeans, t-shirts, and sturdy hiking boots or cowboy boots, depending on the situation. Most of the time, she is either in an ankle length leather trenchcoat, or her brown leather bomber jacket. Otherwise, she dresses as she feels, often in light dresses when the weather permits and she's not riding her motorcycle. She doesn't often wear makeup beyond lipstick, and keeps her hair fairly short, just below shoulder length.

As mentioned, she has a motorcycle, an aging black honda. Other than that, she keeps standard PI gear handy. A data organizer, cell phone, camera and so forth. Her most prized equipment is what she lovingly calls her Thunder Stick. It's a collapseable quarterstaff made of Adamantium (or whatever strong metal our beloved GM will let it be made of ). When collapsed, it is about 18 inches long. Fully extended, it is about six feet in length. Both ends are hollow, and it has the ability to discharge lethal kinetic energy blasts, or a kinetic stun blast (as the power). She has a holster she keeps under her jacket.

Note: A good description would be a force lance from the TV series, Andromeda.

Her super senses give off no noticeable effect themselves, but her deflection power manifests itself as transparent, pale green tendrils of energy, which snake out from her body to swat away objects whether they be bullets, energy blasts, bats, punches or kicks.

Note: A good description would be from the Final Fantasy Movie, the creatures they are battling have similar coloration and appearance to her tendrils.

SHADOW
Concept/Archetype: Alternate form - shadow
Real Name: Brian Mathews
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 186
Hair: black hair (dyed various colours)
Eyes: Black eyes, red rimmed (no pupils)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Birthplace: L.A. Californa

ABILITIES (22 points)
STR 15 +2
DEX 18 +4
CON 11 0
INT 12 +1
WIS 16 +3
CHA 10 0

SAVES
DMG 0
FORT 0
REF +4
WILL +3

MOVEMENT
INIT +4
BASE SPD 30/60/120

COMBAT (15 points)
BASE DEF 3
DEF 18
FLAT 13
MENTAL 16

BASE ATT 3
MELEE +7
RANGED +7
MENTAL +6

SKILLS (11 points)
Acrobatics* [6/2]
Balance [6/2]
Bluf [-5/-5]
Climb [3/1]
Computers* [2/1]
Concentration [3]
Diplomacy [-5/-5]
Drive* [5/1]
Escape Artist [6/2]
Forgery [1]
Gather Info [2/2]
Hide [6/2]
Intimidate [3/1]
Jump [2]
Knowledge: [1]
Listen [3]
Move Silent [6/2]
Read Lips* [2/1]
Science: [1]
Search [2/1]
Sense Motive [4/1]
Sleight/Hand* [5/1]
Spot [4/1]
Survival [3]
Swim [2]
Taunt [2/2]

FEATS (10 points)
Attack Finesse (use dex mod. for melee attacks)
Darkvision (Super) (can see in total darkness)
See Invisible (Super) (can see invisible targets)
Dodge (+1 def, or +2 def to one opponent)
Evasion (use ref save instead of dmg save)
Immunity (Super) (Critical Hit, Disease)
Immunity (Super) (Exhaustion, Poison)
Immunity (Super) (Pressure, Starvation)
Immunity (Super) (Suffocation, Energy - Cold)


POWERS (72 points)
alternate form - Shadow [+8]
Extra: Ghost Touch
Extra: Natural Weapons [+8]
flaw: Only in shadow form
Extra: fatigue [+8]
flaw: (linked to natural weapons)
Posession [+8]
flaw: touch
flaw: Only in shadow form

WEAKNESS (-10 points)
Disturbing ( -5 bluff / diplomacy)

Appearance
Brian is average height and weight for someone in his late teens. He is caucasion but due to his mutant ability, Brian's skin seems to shift and move as a dark substance moves and flows across his body in a random pattern, this dark substance doesn't seem to affect, nor obsure anything but this and his totally black eyes tends to make people uncomfortable and distrusting of his motives.

History

When I was kid I always knew that I was different, I never liked being out in the light and I tended to stay in the shadows as much at possible. I don't know why but it seemed safer some how, I guess it had something to do with my skin, you see my skin was dark, really dark, and considering my parents were from Irish decent it tended to get me into fights when I was in school. But you deal with the hand that life gives you and move on.

As I grew older I got into more and more fights, the funny looking kid hiding in the shadows always seemed to be someone to pick on, of course everyone thinks that, so I was getting pretty good at fighting and I won more than I lost, I wasn't very strong but man I was fast, you don't get hurt if you don't get hit ya know.

By the end of Jr. high I was working a different angle, I still stayed in the shadows (bright light hurt my eyes) but I was working the punk rebel without a cause deal. Yea, I know, not very original but hey when you got the multi-coloured hair, dog collar, leather jacket, shades and various other trinkets on it tends to cut back on the fighting. My parents weren't to thrilled with my attire change but once the phone calls from school dropped off I think they saw it as the lesser of two evils at least they stopped nagging me so much about it.

Thanks to my new threads and to the fact that I could beat up at least half of the guys in my school, high school went pretty well, I got into the occasional fight but kept a B- average, made a couple of what you could call friends or at least a couple of other students that I hung out with and I even went on a couple of dates. Regardless I thought that maybe my life was starting to become normal, of course you know what was coming...
His name was John Malone, he transfered to our school at the beginning of our 11th grade. It was rumored that the reason he came to our school was because he got kicked out of every other one around and he had a very bad rep. For once the rumors didn't do him justice, he was bad to the bone and I was his prime whipping boy, he made my life hell. he made a lot of student's life hell but he seemed to delight in really giving it to me.

As fate would have it, we were in the same gym class and that's when he really loved to taunt me, one day I just couldn't take it any more and I flipped him the bird and told him where to go and gave him explict instructions on how to get there. Wow, was that was the wrong thing to do. After school was done John and his pals gave me a pretty nasty beating, guess they were making an example of me, I was bleeding and barely awake, they had backed me into a darkened corner and I honestly believed that they were going to kill me.

That's when it happened, it felt a wave of warmth flow throw me and I literally melded with the darkness, let it never be said that I don't take an advantage when one is presented to me, ok maybe it was just reflex but the next thing I knew I lashed out at him and thats when I noticed them. My fingers weren't fingers any more but wicked looking claws. I missed with my attack but I freaked John out so much he actually pass out and his so called pals took off.

It was then I heard the voice in my head, he helped me return to my original form. So there I was, standing over John unconcious body and with a guy in a wheelchair next to me. His name was Charles Xavier and he explained that I was a mutant and that I had extraordinary powers and he could help me control these powers if I wanted. I figured that anything had to be better then the way my life was going now so I took him up on his offer.

All I can say is I am glad I did.

Powers:
Brian's mutant ability somehow taps into a dark matter dimension, he can use this to turn himself into a two dimensional shadow, he also has some limited control of the dark matter, this is evident with the shadow claws he can create while he is in shadow form. The claws tends weaken anyone who comes into contact with them, why this happens is unknown to Brian, he tends to believe its because of the nature of them.
He can also take control of someone by merging his body into the other although at this time he has to touch the person he wants to take control off.

Personality:
Brian is a typical teenager, he dyes his hair and wears various punk and leather items for a defense mechanism more then any other reason. He stays in the background but will speak up and share his thoughts if he thinks he is right or at least if asked.

Flex

Flex [Ben Rodriguez]
Powerhouse

Age: 19
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10'' or 11'8"
Weight: 240-1,920 lbs
Eyes: Brown, but currently wears white-out contact lenses.
Hair: Currently Red on top and Black around the sides, cropped. He also currently sports a red-dyed chin gotee.
Skin: Tanned

Nationality: Hispanic
Current Residence: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Current Work: Student

Attributes: [Cost 22 pts.]
STR: 18 +4
DEX: 14 +2
CON: 14 +2
INT: 12 +1
WIS: 11 +0
CHA: 13 +1

Defense: 16 [10 + 2 Dex + 4 Purchased] [cost 8 pts.]
Initiative: +2 [+2 Dex]
BAB: +8 [cost 24 pts.]
Melee: +12 [+13 Unarmed]
Ranged: +10
Speed: 30’

Damage: +4 [+2 Con, +2 Feat]
Fort: +2 [+2 Con]
Reflex: +2 [+2 Dex]
Will: +0 [+0 Wis]

Hero Points:4

Superpowers:
Drain: 8 Ranks, Source: 2 Trained, 6 Mutation
--Extra: Boost (Strength)
--Extra: Boost (Constitution)
--Extra: Healing (Self only)
--Extra: Slow Recovery
--Flaw: Only works on Strength
--Flaw: Power only works against living creatures.
Growth: 4 Ranks, Source: Mutation.
--Flaw: Power can only be used if Flex has at least 10 ability points Absorbed.
[Cost 52 pts.]

Weakness: Disturbing – If Flex has at least 1 ability point absorbed, his veins bulge grotesquely. This is a systemic effect- hands, legs, back, neck, forehead, everything looks like it could pop with the slightest pressure. [Cost -10 pts.]

FEATS: Attack Focus - Unarmed
Chokehold
Power Attack
Takedown Attack
Rapid Strike
Toughness
Penetrate Attack(Drain) x2 [Cost 16 pts.]

Skills: [Cost 8 pts.]
Language(Spanish) [-/1]
Listen [3/3]
Knowledge(Trivia) [3/2]
Open Lock [5/4]
Search [4/3]
Sleight of Hand [5/3]


Possessions (worn): X-suit when he's working. Otherwise, Flex prefers black, ragged clothes often home-studded with macabre designs, pins, and patches of local punk bands. Wallet, combat boots, ear piercings (two spikes on top, ring on the bottom), nosering, double eyebrow piercing (spikes), and double nipple rings. Per Xavier's rules, he does not wear most of these during missions, but it isn't uncommon for him to leave a few in anyway.

Possessions: Flex has lived at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters for just under a year. When he arrived, he carried only the clothes on his back and myriad body jewelry across his person. This is still about all he has to his name, but has aquired a few texbooks and school supplies.

History and origin:Flex is a twenty-year-old musclehead. He won numerous weight-lifting, bodybuilding, and wrestling competitions during high school until the nature of his mutation was discovered. As it turned out, Flex was able to cannibalize small portions of his opponent's physical mass and add it to his own. The effect lasted as long as he desired but without training, it would dissipate as he slept.

Now better instructed in the use of his abilities, Flex can conciously absorb and release the stored mass in small quantities. He has yet to fully test the limits of his abilities but has found that only living, animal mass can be consumed in this way. With gains in mass, he naturally becomes taller, heavier, and bulkier but becomes a horrific sight to behold. He can also use the stored mass to regenerate wounds.

After the fallout of his meathead career, Flex left home in shame and changed his identity, adopting the nickname as his own. People have been calling him Flex for so long, he barely remembers his name (or perhaps is still trying to forget it). He's a hobo punk- decked out in spikes, tats, piercings, unwashed grime and all black most of the time. His attitude is one of practiced apathy with a natural, underlying heart of gold that needs some tender prodding to be let out.

Gemini

Gemini [Angela Lance]
Secret Identity

Age: 26
Gender: Female
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 132 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Skin: Pale

Nationality: American
Former Residence: Shady Pines Mental Asylum
Current Work: Formerly a Lawyer, Out of work

Attributes: [Cost 30 pts.]
STR: 14 +2
DEX: 16 +3
CON: 14 +2
INT: 14 +2
WIS: 14 +2
CHA: 18 +4

Defense: 21 [10 + 3 Dex + 3 Power (Super Dex) + 6 Purchased] [cost 12 pts.]
Initiative: +9 [+3 Dex +3 Power + 4 Improved Initiative]
BAB: +3 [cost 9 pts.]
Melee: +5
Ranged: +6
Speed: 30’

Damage: +2
Fort: +2 [+2 Con]
Reflex: +6 [+3 Dex +3 Power]
Will: +2 [+2 Wis]

Hero Points:

Superpowers:
Shapeshift: 8 Ranks, Source: Mutation, Extras: Mimicry (Extras: Expanded Powers x2, Ranged, Extra Subject, Continuous, Flaws: Tainted Mimicry, Backlash), Flaws: Limited, One type: Humanoids [Cost 40 pts.]
Super-Dexterity: 3 Ranks, Source: Mutation [Cost 12 pts.]
Super Charisma 4 Ranks, Source: Mutation[Cost 8 pts.]

Weakness: Quirk (For every day spent imitating another person or another person’s powers, Gemini acquires personality traits similar to that person) [Cost -10 pts.]

FEATS: Detect (Superpowers), Improved Initiative, Power Immunity, Attractive [Cost 8 pts.]

Skills: [Cost 11 pts.]
Bluff +15 [4 rank + 4 Super Cha + 3 Attractive]
Diplomacy +15 [4 ranks + 4 Super Cha + 3 Attractive]
Disguise +12 [4 Ranks + 4 Super Cha]
Gather Information +10 [2 Ranks +4 Super Cha
Sense Motive +6 [4 rank]
Spot +6 [4 rank]

Description: A 26 year old female, Angela has shoulder length black hair and deep blue eyes. She is very slender and pale, to the point that she almost appears unhealthy. Though she herself is rather plain in appearance, she has a force of personality that some might call magnetic.

Personality: Angela is trying to return to the personality that she had before she was institutionalized: happy and carefree. However, too much time spent under the ‘care’ of Shady Pines has left a mark, and she is quite nervous about being discovered and forced to return.

History and origin: Angela was born to very wealthy parents, the “old money” of Massachusetts. She lead an idyllic childhood, enjoying the best of everything, from clothes, to schools, to friends. However, not long after she hit puberty, she began experiencing occasional blackouts. Though she did not remember anything that happened during these blackouts, her parents would often complain about how she did not act like herself during these times. The blackouts became so bad that her parents hired a tutor for her and kept her at home as much as possible. As a result, the blackouts ceased soon after.

Despite her difficulty with the blackouts, she excelled at school. She attended Harvard to obtain a law degree, where she met her husband to be: Michael Young.

But Michael was far from the perfect husband. Angela soon learned that he was arrogant and cruel, and really only interested in expanding his own fortune. Disgusted with him, Angela began gathering her resources and preparing to get a divorce. Of course, Michael would have no part of it, as a divorce would cost him more money than he cared to lose. In the fight that ensued, she inadvertently mimicked an Energy Blast power, though to this day she has no idea where she learned that particular power. The Energy Blast burned Michael severely. The police were called, and Angela was quickly arrested for assault charges.

The court hearing was little more than a formality, as Michael used some of his connections within the court systems to have Angela declared insane. She was detained at Shady Pines Mental Asylum, where she remained for a year and a half. At last she escaped, and eventually found her way to Professor Xavier.

DATA - The Living Computer

Data [Frank Morrisson]
Secret Identity

Age: 19
Gender: Male
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 190 lbs
Eyes: brown
Hair: light brown, unkempt
Ethnicity: caucasian

Nationality: American
Current Residence:
Occupation: student (at Charles Xaviers school)

Attributes: [Cost 12 pts.]
STR: 13 +1
DEX: 10 +0
CON: 12 +1
INT: 14 +10 (Modifier includes Super-Intelligence)
WIS: 13 +1
CHA: 10 +0

Defense: 10 [10 + 0 Dex + 0 Purchased] [cost 0 pts.]
Initiative: +0 [+0 Dex]
BAB: +0 [cost 0 pts.]
Melee: +1 [+1 Str]
Ranged: +0
Speed: 30’

Damage: +1 [+1 Con]
Fort: +1 [+1 Con]
Reflex: +7 [+0 Dex, +7 Power]
Will: +8 [+1 Wis, +7 Power]

Hero Points:4

Superpowers:
Datalink: 8 Ranks, Source: Mutation [Cost 16 points]
Comprehend: 8 Ranks, Source: Mutation [Cost 16 points]
Super-Intelligence: 8 Ranks, Source: Mutation [Cost 16 points]
Amazing Save - Reflex: 7 Ranks, Extra: Other Save Bonus - Will, Source: Mutation [Cost 14 points]
Animation: 8 Ranks, Flaw: Limited - Only Machines, Source: Mutation [Cost 8 points]

Feats: Photographic Memory, Skill Focus (Computers), Radio Hearing, Radio Broadcasting, Detect (electronics), Talented (Disable Device & Repair) [Cost 12 points]

Skills: [Cost 26 pts.]
Computers +24 [11 Ranks + 3 Feat + 10 Int]
Disable Device +20 [8 Ranks + 2 Feat + 10 Int]
Repair +20 [8 Ranks + 2 Feat + 10 Int]
Science
- Robotics +18 [8 Ranks + 10 Int]
- Mathematics +18 [8 Ranks + 10 Int]
Search +15 [5 Ranks + 10 Int]
Spot +5 [4 Ranks + 1 Wis]

Possessions (worn): Casual clothes, wallet, the usual.

Possessions: Frank stays at Charles Xavier's school, and - apart from his room at the dormitory and the furniture - doesn't own much, except for a laptop (latest model of course).

Description: A 19 year old human male, standing 6’8'' and weighing about 190, with brown eyes, pale (but not unhealthily so) skin and unkempt hair, Frank towers above most people, but does not throw his weight around.

Personality: Frank, being extremely intelligent, tries not to show off - and can therefore come off as reserved - but when faced with an intellectual challenge he will dive straight at it. However, he has enough common sense to realize that there are things he are not best at. Overall, Frank tries to be a nice person.

History and origin: Frank Morrisson was born into a middle-class family in San Fransisco and lived a peaceful life there... until the age of 12, when his mutant powers developed. Suddenly, young Frank found himself able to communicate mentally with - and control - machines. He also gained the logical mind of a computer, complete with photographic memory and enhanced intelligence.

Being quite intelligent even before, Frank finally graduated from high school with good grades, and went on to college. He could certainly have graduated earlier, but he held back to hide his superhuman intelligence. Other than for his knack with computers, Frank's powers weren't really obvious, so he could live a peaceful life despite the anti-mutant sentiments.

Frank was quite bored with the less than challenging studies at college though, so he readily accepted when Professor X showed up, told him about the X-men, and asked for his help. Morrisson would move to Massachusetts and join the school there, as a "front" to not reveal the fact that he was a mutant... not yet anyway. Finally, a worthy challenge for Frank "Data" Morrisson, cyberkinetic programmer.

Anteus

Code Name: Antaeus
Real Name: Jake French
Size: Medium
Gender: Male
Age:18
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 250 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown

Team Name: X-Men
Base of Ops: Westchester

ABILITIES
STR 16 +9
DEX 12 +1
CON 16 +3
INT 12 +1
WIS 10 0
CHA 10 0

SAVES
DMG +5
FORT +5
REF +1
WILL 0

MOVEMENT
INIT +1
SPEED 30/60/120

COMBAT
BASE DEF 3
DEF 14
FLAT 13
MENTAL 13

BASE ATT 4
MELEE +7
RANGED +5
MENTAL +4

SKILLS
Climb [11/2]
Drive* [4/3]
Intimidate [13/4]
Jump [11/2]
Knowledge: geology [7/6]
Repair* [6/5]
Search [5/4]
Sense Motive [4/4]
Spot [4/4]
Survival [4/4]
Swim [11/2]

FEATS
Durability (flaw: contact with earth)
Greater Fortitude (flaw: contact with earth)
Immunity (Super) (critical hits) (flaw: contact with earth)
Immunity (Super) (penetrating attack) (flaw: contact with earth)
Power Attack (max 5)(flaw: contact with earth)
Toughness (+2 to damage saves)(flaw: contact with earth)

POWERS
Super-Strength [+8]
flaw: contact with earth
extra: immovability [+8]
extra: regeneration [+8]
extra: shockwave [+8]
extra: protection (stone skin) [+4] (flaw: duration sustained)
stunt: lifting
stunt: lethal
Body Armor [+4]

COST
abilities [16]
base att [12]
base def [6]
skills [20]
feats [6]
powers [60]
weakness [0]
total [120]
unspent [0]



New York

The movers were setting up the exhibits as Jacob French and his parents entered the museum, but to someone who did not know the French family, it would look like the youth who walked beside them could not be related.

Paul and Irene French were both slender, short of stature and fair skinned, the last being a mystery to everyone as their work kept them exposed to the sun constantly, while Jake towered over his parents looking almost comical in a rented tux that barely fit him due to his broad shoulders and chest.

~I hate these monkey suits, but mom always says that if you wish to reach those who wish to feel important, you have to present them with something they can relate to.~

For the majority of his years, the cycle of digging, cataloguing, storing, and showing seemed to be all that Jake and his family knew how to do. Even the vacations they took to visit his Grandfather “Paps” French seemed to involve something with their work, whether an item was brought with them for more study or something as simple as planning their next dig. Jake however looked forward to the vacations for reasons that for the longest time only he and Paps knew about.

Like his grandson, Matthew French stood well over six feet in height, and even though he was well into his eighties, Paps still worked his ranch with a strength and stamina that his assistants admired. Jake had always thought his grandfather resembled a silver bear, as his grandfather had always been an extremely hairy man, and for as long as Jake, or his father for that matter, could recall his hair had always been a steel gray color. The last part was whispered to be caused by the sights the eldest French had seen while fighting in the “good fight” in both World Wars.

It was not his grandfather’s stories, souvenirs, and relaxed manner that made Jake look forward to spending time with his grandfather, but the fact that like Jake, there was more to Paps than met the eye.

Jake had discovered Paps “gift” by accident when the two were out hunting in woods behind the ranch. Nervous and coming down with “deer fever”, Jake had set his crosshairs on what he knew had to be the biggest buck ever to be shot in North Dakota. Jake pulled the trigger and instead of hearing the satisfying thrashing of a deer, he heard a stream of obscenities coming from a source he knew all too well.

Rushing down to check on his grandfather, Jake saw the hole in Paps’ shirt where the slug had ripped through his shoulder, and saw the dark crimson stain consume more of the flannel shirt his grandfather wore. However, where there should have been overwhelming agony, Jake was surprised that his grandfather seemed simply more pissed off than anything else, as he made Jake swear that what he was about to see never went any further than the two of them.

Ripping his shirt, Paps began washing the bloody shoulder with water from his canteen, and to Jake’s disbelief the holes in Paps body simply closed up, leaving only the faintest of scars underneath the sea of body hair Paps possessed. Stunned silent for a moment, Jake did what all thirteen year olds do when they discover that the kind old man they love is bulletproof, he began the onslaught of questions into everything of Paps past. Laughing, Paps shared with his grandson the secrets that he had kept hidden almost all of his life and the more Paps talked, the more Jake vowed to find a way to be like his grandfather.

As Jake grew older, there was no doubt in both his and Paps’ mind that there was something different about him. By sixteen, Jake was as taller, and stronger, than most of the hired movers who came to the dig site to help pack the camps up, and like his grandfather, he seemed to almost never get winded or sick. However, while Jake saw these facts as something to be shown off whenever possible, his grandfather began seeing Jake as a target for the government he was beginning to trust less and less.

Swallowing the knot of fear and doubt in his throat, Matthew French called up the people he knew that had to be told everything, but at the same time he was afraid of how they treat not only Jake, but also himself. He called up Jake’s parents and slowly at first, but with confidence growing as the called went on, told them everything that had been happening right under their noses for the past three years, and more.
At first, both Paul and Irene were stunned, but as time allowed their minds to weigh the facts of both Jake and his grandfather’s words, they began to see it as a major breakthrough in the understanding in many culture’s “heroes”. In legend there have always been men and women whom seemed to be “more” than what they were, and while it was a risky and radical change from the accepted means of thinking on humanity’s past, both felt it was the correct way to look at it and began secretly trying to uncover the “real secret” behind every dig.

Two years, and many dead-ends later, it is time for the French’s to present what they have discovered so far to the Museum of Archeology in New York. While they know they have not collected enough evidence to support the real reason for their fieldwork, they are hoping that what they have collected over they years will be enough to keep them going, but only time and a successful showing will tell…