Power Surge, born Sergio Paretti, is from an Italian immigrant family in (World-Appropriate New York-Like Place). When he was a child, his father, who owns a small restaurant, empacised the value of hard work and perserverance, often telling of how his family came to (World-Appropriate US-Like Place) with nothing and built a sucessful life, despite numerous setbacks. Sergio deeply identified with his fathers' experience. He was never the strongest or the smartest in his class, but he always got by through good old-fashioned hard work, sticktuitiveness, and the support of his family and his close-knit ethnic neighborhood.
When he was 17, things turned sour for the Parettis, when gangsters moved into the neighborhood and began demanding increasingly-unreasonable protection money. Hoping to find information to anonymously pass on to the police, Sergio climbed a fire escape and began listening in on the gangsters' conversations. He was soon spotted and confronted by a guard, and when the guard grabbed him from behind, he instinctively turned around and struck the man. To his surprise, he felt as if he was being mildly electricuted. He felt the electricity go through him, and his hair stood up. His fist struck the guard in the chest, the shock stopped the guard's heart, and he feel from the fire escape (Developed Electrical Control). Sergio ran, fearing the mafia, the police, and himself. But no one had seen him, and the coronor ruled the guard's death to have been caused by a freak heart attack, rather than caused by a freak.
Sergio wrestled with the situation for a long time. He felt bad for the gangster he killed, even though it was an accident. On the other hand, the guy was a mob enforcer, a man who harmed the innocent for a living...and he would never again harm anyone else. Of course, it is always better for the bad guys to be caught and tried under the law, but he could not escape the fact that the world is better off on account of his strange accident.
Shortly after, he noticed a sudden affinity for machines. He never waited long for an elevator. In fact, if he thought about it enough, they seemed to come directly to whatever floor he was on, regardless of other calls. (Developed Machine Control)
After graduating from high school, he joined the military. During his routine entry physical, the military tested his blood for extant or latant super-powers, and shortly after basic training, he was assigned to a special unit of similarly-unique individuals. There, they taught him to hone his powers and use them to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. (Developed Enhanced Dex for better aim, APs and Power Feats on his Electrical Control Array, his Forecefield, combat feats) After a while, he was transferred yet again, this time outside of the military to an off-the-books operation that dealt in especially delicate situations.
Among his many missions, he was sent with Corporal Atom, a hero with the ability to manipulate radiation, to destroy a nuclear research facility in Lazulistan that was about to begin production of nuclear weapons. Atom was to drain the materials of their radioactivity, and Surge was to destroy the rest of the facility. Something went wrong on Atom's end, and the facility's small research reactor exploded. Atom and Surge were separated in the confusion, and the radiation created too much radio interference for communication. Atom got out fine, since he is immune to radiation, but Surge eventually died of radiation poisoning in the nearby wilderness. But something strange happened then: he got better (Developed Healing:Resurrection 1). Whats more, he found himself to be especially resistant to damage, an entirely immune to blades and some bullets, too (Developed Enhanced Constitution and Impervious Toughness). (As he found out the hard way while getting out of Lazulistan, during an incident when his forcefield was temporarily down).
When he recovered, he found his way back to the military, and to a disgraced Corporal Atom who had assured their superiors that he must have been vaporized by the explosion.
Military scientists determined that his electrical mutations were but one example of a uniquely flexable biology unlocked by the massive exposure to radiation. His natural perserverance imprinted itself into his DNA, granting him additional powers. He agreed to be used as a test subject, so htat the military oculd determine how to increase his powers to become a better soldier, to become better able to protect the innocent. Using a combination of radiation, gene therapy based on the powers of other mutants, and mental excercises, they were able to expand his powers. Their greatest success was manipulation of light waves, which gave him invisibility, a danger sense, darkvision, and the ability to hear radio communications, as well as helping him enhance his electrical powers by manefesting them as illusory devices that he could use to focus his mind on using his abilities (Those observing him with other than regular vision sees him using pure electrical energy instead). His mastery of radio waves opened up additional possibilities for transmitting his powers, and he was trained to combine it with his mind-related electrical abilities to gain the power of telepathy. Additionally, they were able to grant him minor flight and sound manipulation (Developed Concealment form Sound) powers.
Eventiually, however, his unit was shut down when a new Secretary of Defense cut out certian black operations that the new president would have disapproved of. Surge adapted to civilian life by getting a job as a police consultant, which gave him the access necessary to fight crime anonymously.
His perserverance and dedication are by far his most prominent feature. He will do whatever it takes to take down the bad guys, and his formidible defensive powers make him quite willing to take big risks. He fights well alone, but his military background taught him to be an adept team player as well. Occasionally, when he gets bored, he uses his powers to listen to civilian radio rather than paying much attention to whats going on around him. If he's bored and figity, he's probably listening to music. If he's bored and angry, he's probably listening to talk radio.
Surge is of medium height and a bit stocky. While good looking, his time in the military and later covert ops sometimes keeps him from opening up to people as much as he wishes he could, and his ability to lead is hampered by the lack of the heirarchical power structure he's used to. His military backgorund also, however, makes him fiercely protective of his allies, and is quite willing to take a bullet -- or a tank shell -- for his friends, especially since no normal weapon short of a battleship's gun battery can harm him. is Nonetheless, he is, outwardly at least, reasonably easy-going and wryly humorous. His hero costume is camouflage pants, a white shirt, a mlitary jacket, and an American flag bandana with eye holes. This seems to have the same quasi-magical effect as Clark Kent's glasses, making him strangely difficult to identify (
).
Some mechanical notes: Many of his attack powers have Homing becuase electricity needs to go somewhere rather than disapating, so it can arc back to the target if it just misses. They also tend to have Full Power because he focuses his power by imagining them weapons such as bullets and grenades, and their effects cannot typically be modulated. He has limited uses of the grenades and rockets beucase no one typically carries large numbers of those, but typically does carry plenty of bullets. The grenades have ricochet (because grenades do that), as well as sense-dependant to simulate the sensory-overload ability of flash grenades.
Sergio Paretti, aka Power Surge, Mutant Super-Soldier
PL: 10 (150 pp)
ABILITIES:
STR: 10 (0)
DEX: 16 (+3/+2)
CON: 20 (+5/+4)
INT: 10 (0)
WIS: 14 (+2)
CHA: 10 (0)
PP Spent: 16
SKILLS:
Bluff 10 (+10)
Concentration 10 (+12)
Diplomacy 8 (+8)
Drive (+3)
Escape Artist (+3)
Gather Info 10 (+10)
Notice 10 (+10)
Pilot 1 (+4)
Sense Motive 10 (+12)
Survival (+2)
Swim 1 (+1)
PP Spent: 15
FEATS: Attack Specialization: Electrical Control Array (1), Dodge Focus (5), Improved Initiative (1), Quick Change (1), Uncanny Dodge, Precise Shot (2), Elusive Target, Evasion (2), Power Attack, Redirect, Attractive (1), Interpose
PP Spent: 18
POWERS:
Electrical Control Array: 20pp+9pp (APs) = 29pp
Electrical Control (Blast) 10 Full Power Drawback, Homing
Manefests as a pistol
(10ranks*2base-1fullpower+1homing = 20pp)
Mind Control 10 (Extra: Conscious, Flaw: Range: Ranged) w/Homing and Full Power
Manefests as an electrical whip that must hit to be effective
(10ranks*(2base+1conscious-1ranged)-1 full power+1 homing = 20pp)
Disintegrate 10 (Extras: Full Round, Unreliable (5-times method w/1hour mental excercises to recover. If he runs out of uses, the entire array goes down)) w/ Full Power and Homing
((base4-1full round-1unreliable)*10ranks+1homing-1fullpower = 20pp)
Manefests as a rocket launcher
Strike 10 (Extras: Aura, Duration +2, Side-Effect(Strike 10 each round)) and Incurable and Full Power
Manefests as a melee weapon, usually a combat knife if he is doing lethal damage or a baton if he is doing non-lethal damage
(10ranks*(1base+1aura+2duration-2Side-Effect-1full power+1incurable = 20pp)
Note: the side-effect is riskier than it looks because if the forcefield is dropped by a nullify, stun, etc, it effects him at the beginning of the round, before he can turn the force field back on or switch powers)
Animate Objects (Mechanical) 10 (10ranks*2base = 20pp)
Manefests as an advanced-looking PDA that connects by firing a cable into the device (attack roll required)
Blast 10 w/ Autofire 1 and Full Action, Full Power, Homing
Manefests as a machine gun
(5ranks*(2base+1autofire-1)+1full power-1homing = 20pp)
Datalink/Charm Computer/Whatever We Call It 10
Manefests as an advanced-looking PDA that connects by firing a cable into the device (attack roll required)
(10ranks*(2base+1conscious-1ranged)-1 full power+1 homing = 20pp)
Telekinesis 9 w/Precise and Extend Range
Manefests as pure electrical energy that moves things as if it were a physical object
(9ranks*2base+1precise+1ext range = 20pp)
Teleport 9 (Extras: Accurate, Medium(wiring)) w/Easy and Turnabout
Manefests by transforming briefly into a bolt of lightning shooting into the medium, than another bolt coming out of the medium at the destination to the spot he is to appear
(9*(2base-1medium+1accurate)+1Easy+1Turnabout=20pp)
Blast 10 (Extras: Area 1: Explosion, Sense-Dependent) w/Full Power and Ricochet, Linked with the other grenade power. (10*(2base+1area-1sense-dependant)-1full power+1ricochet)
End Electrical Control Array
Force Field (Impervious) 8, Selective (8ranks*(1base+1impervious)+1selective = 17pp)
Enhanced Dexterity 2 (2pp)
Enhanced Constitution 2 (2pp)
Flight 1 (2pp)
Manefests as a jet-pack, with the bottom glowing with electrical energy like certain space-ship engines
Sight & Sound Manipulation Array (5pp+1Ap = 6pp)
Concealment 3: Normal Sight & Hearing Full Power (Cannot become just invis or just silenced)
(3base*3ranks-1fullpower=5pp)
When invisible, the other abilities' visual manefestations are also invisible
Stun 10 (Flaws: Sense-Dependent (target must see the center point), Unreliable (the five times option until an hour of meditation), Side-Effect (Blast 10 on self on sucessful reflex save of an opponent), Exras: Area 1: Explosion) w/Full Power and Ricochet, Linked with Blast power (2base-1sensedependant-1unreliable-1side effect = .5/rank...10 ranks = 5pp-1ricochet+1fullpower. Total = 5pp)
Manefests as a hand grenade
End Sight & Sound Manipulation Array
Impervious Toughness 5 (5pp)
Regeneration (Resurrection) 1 (1pp)
Super-Senses (Radio) 1 (1pp)
Super-Senses (Darkvision) 1 (2pp)
Super-Senses (Danger Sense) 1 (1pp)
Telepathy 1 (2pp)
PP Spent: 70
SAVES:
Toughness 13 (13 flat-footed, Impervious 13)
Fortitude 10 (5pp)
Reflex 9 (6pp)
Will 10 (8pp)
PP Spent: 19
COMBAT:
Base Attk: +7 (14pp)
Base Defense: +2 (4pp)
Initiative: +8
Typical Attack: +9 (7+2Attack Spec)
Typical Damage: +10
Special Effects (Homing, Area, whatever) vary
PP Spent 18
Drawbacks:
Most powers do not function properly or at all under water, or where electricity cannot be easily controlled -3
Blast Powers do not work where fire cannot burn-1
Minor Weakness: Rubber/Especially-Nonconductive-Fantasy-Materials Weaponry -1
Minor Weakness: Water-based attacks -1
PP Spent: -6
PP Spent 16abilities+18feats+15skills+70powers+19saves+18combat-6drawbacks = 150pp
Complications:
Secret Identity -- Though it is classified, the DoD knows who he really is. So do a number of his former coworkers (and possibly old enemies?), some of whom moved on to less honorable professions after their program got cut.
Enemy -- Corporal Atom, who still works for the military, resents Surge's inadvertant role in ruining his career.
Enemy -- the mob boss who tormented his neighborhood turned on his associates and is in witness protection in Iowa. Surge knows where he lives, and is sometimes haunted with the desire for veangence.
