Derin

Whiplash: Birthday Wishes The Devil his Due Vignette Medic: Bound in Dust Vignette

Medic Medic stood almost motionless outside the burning house, sucking thoughtfully on a cotton ball. It was the first time she'd worn her hero costume in the field, and it was half-obscured under latex gloves and protective masks and frocks... should she find that funny? She couldn't enter. She couldn't risk damaging her clothing. So she waited until she saw the fireman push his way out the front door, crying toddler in his arms, before moving her mask aside long enough to spit the cotton ball into her palm and jogging over. She pressed the cotton against the child's inner elbow. “I'm still not sure exactly how this healing thingy of yours works,†the fireman admitted as he carried the child toward the ambulance. “Not very well without skin-to-skin contact,†she replied. “Normally my nanites can interface with the command inside my body during diagnostics and...†… idle questions are not requests for detailed medical lectures... “... I mean, I'm just infusing my saliva with crude skin and muscle repair nanites. They're not great, but they'll get things started.†“Why are you out here instead of healing people in the hospital?†“The hospitals already have doctors, doctors with procedures and equipment that I'm not trained in. I'm a lot more useful out here. If I could touch my patients, staking out an emergency room might not be a bad idea, but in these conditions I'd just be in everybody's way.†“Hey, maybe you'd get infected and get even better healing powers,†the fireman joked as a paramedic pulled the toddler from his arms.†“Maybe.†Medic wasn't about to experiment with the idea, but she thought she was probably immune to the symptoms of the... whatever was going around. Her nanites “knew†what Chloe's body was supposed to be like; they'd probably be able to counteract changes as they happened, including developing powers. But she had no idea whether they'd be able to recognise the contagion. She could become a silent carrier, unknowingly dooming uninfected patients as she laid hands on them to heal them... She ran a hand up her arm nervously, reassuring herself that her entire body was covered. No touching anyone, no matter how certain they were that they weren't infected. The risk was too high. “Hey, if your nanites can diagnose stuff, maybe you'll solve this crisis for us,†the fireman said with a wink as he got into the truck. Medic laughed. “My medical training isn't that good.†“You want a ride to the next one?†His partner was already starting the truck as he buckled in. “Is it big?†“Pretty big.†“Then I'd be in your way. Good luck.†She stared at the truck as it drove away. She'd laughed, but he was right. What if she could cure the spreading illness? What if she could? She didn't know what it was. But she didn't know exactly how she repaired skin either. She didn't need conscious medical knowledge any more than an athlete needed to know the biological details of muscle contraction. Most of her nanites' work was unconscious. Would they know, if she gave them a chance to diagnose? If she laid her hands on an infected patient, would her nanites be able to heal them? Even if they couldn't, would the experience tell her something – anything – that the scientists could use in developing a cure? Medic started walking. She didn't know where she was going. Wherever it was, there'd be somebody who needed her help, if she walked around long enough. It was too risky. It'd put her out of commission for good. She couldn't risk even one exposure. She couldn't risk the possibility of becoming infected and not knowing, of passing it on to future patients... even the possibility that her nanites might not recognise the contagion but might counteract the cure, if it was found. She had no idea how her body would react to drugs. The nanites might not allow any chemical interference, might not distinguish a cure from a toxin. Then she'd be a permanent carrier, never able to touch anybody again. To heal again. “Help! Miss! Are you a doctor?!†Well, that is why I have a big red cross on my back. Medic turned to the woman calling out to her. She looked about thirty, and scared, loitering in a doorway. “What's the problem?†“My daughter...†Medic rushed into the house and let the woman lead her upstairs. “She said she felt sick a couple of days ago and I didn't think anything of it but now she has a fever and she's not responding to her name...†An open bedroom door. Medic darted inside. The girl lying on the bed looked about eleven, caked in sweat and shivering. Her eyes were half-open but unfocused. Medic took the thermometer from her mouth (she could choke on it in that state), glanced at the reading, and winced. “Do you have any ice, ma'am?†The woman, standing in the doorway, silently shook her head. “Has your daughter recently developed superpowers?†She glanced away. Not good. Medic looked back to her patient. They needed to get her temperature down immediately. No time for an ambulance. It might already be too late. They needed ice, they needed to bring down her temperature, and she probably couldn't cure the infection, she... She didn't know if she could help with the infection. But she did know that she could bring down a fever. Medic peeled off a glove. She could cure fevers, and she could heal bones, and she could repair the skin and internal organs of those that the paramedics couldn't touch for fear of infection. Even if she couldn't touch the uninfected, she could keep infected patients in one piece until a cure was found. She could save this girl. And if she had any effect at all on the power-causing infection... well, that would be a nice little bonus. Without giving herself time to reconsider, she pressed her hand against the girl's forehead and focused. After a few seconds, the shivering stopped. I am a healer. A world-endangering plague can't scare me away from that.

Hot Zone -- Whiplash The three young men were clearly amateurs. They couldn't stop grinning at each other for the whole robbery. The beefy one laughed out loud as he walked up to the shop and tore the reinforced door from its hinges with one hand, completely ignoring the floor-to-ceiling display windows on either side, and the tall, lanky one winked at him as he waltzed inside, hands growing to massive size, and simply filled them with random snack foods, adding the till almost as an afterthought. “Come on, let's go,†the small one said, peering up and down the street for trouble. But he, too, was grinning. They looked about sixteen years old. Amateurs, robbing an unattended convenience store. Not something that Whiplash would normally bother with. But petty theft wasn't the current problem. The small, alert one hadn't seen her crouching on the roof above them. Hardly anybody ever thought to look up. The question was, how to round the idiots up without panicking them? She wasn't sure of the exact nature or extent of their powers and neither, presumably, were they. She ran one hand over the top of her gas mask, ensuring once again that her entire face, like the rest of her body, was completely covered. Then she leapt down, careful to make sure her hands were clearly open and empty. “Boys, you're sick. You need to let us help you.†The small one visibly jumped, and all three turned to look at her. They looked her up and down, sneers playing on their faces. “Oh,†the big one said. “A hero. Yeah, we know there's a quarantine. Of course you want to keep all the powers to yourselves, don't you? Can't have everybody running around with superpowers. Then you don't get to be tough and special. Well now we can meet you on your level.†He took a step towards her. “So. What are you gonna do about it?†The three of them moved to form a semicircle, backing her against a wall. She wasn't as cornered as she looked – she could be up the wall in seconds – but that they were aggressive at all was distressing. It was worse than if they'd fled. She couldn't afford to fight, she couldn't afford to get her outfit cut or torn. With the superpower-inducing contagion spreading, any skin contact with these three was an infection risk. The city around them, erupting in chaos and panic as people tested or fled from new superpowers, was a testament to the efficiency of the disease. “Listen,†she said, “you're going to burn out. You need to let the doctors take care of you.†Her instincts told her to reach for her whip, but she kept her hands stubbornly open and away from her belt. “We're looking for a cure but this sort of random chaos only makes it harder! People are going to die, do you understand that? And by the way, I don't have any superpowers.†“Then this is gonna sting a bit, isn't it?†The big guy bunched his fist and leapt forward. Whiplash automatically lashed out, her whip snaking around the boy's feet to trip him up. The other two fled; the lanky guy dropped his loot and grew his legs to immense size, taking half-block steps to flee, while the small one was a blur for a half-second and then, suddenly, not there. Whiplash snaked her whip around her prone opponent, binding him. “Please calm down and let me help.†The boy roared and strained against his bonds, and Whiplash felt a sudden, inexplicable pain shoot up her right arm. She screamed, and somehow the boy slipped from the coils of her whip while she was distracted and fled. Well, that was a failure. Time to get above street level and finish her patrol. She was reaching for her first handhold in the wall when it occurred to her that she hadn't drawn her whip before lashing out with it. Whiplash looked down. A long, fleshy tendril trailed from the palm of her right hand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't panic. It's fine. It'll all be fine. Whiplash stared at the... the flesh whip dangling from her hand. She glanced at the freshly robbed convenience store, picked a crack in the window as a target, and struck out. The glass cracked further; a dead hit. She felt the impact, an odd sensation. It handled just like her normal whip. But it was going to get in her way. She'd grown it instinctively, when she needed a whip... Whiplash closed her eyes and imagined putting her whip away. There was an odd, tingling sensation, and when she opened her eyes, her palm was normal, a hole in her glove the only sign that anything unusual had happened. She had a feeling that, with practice, she could learn how to handle the flesh whip better than a real one, be even more accurate, learn how to feel properly through it. But she wouldn't get a chance to learn that. Not if the doctors were right. Two months. Two months in which she couldn't touch her daughter, couldn't share a meal with her sister. Then she would die. How had it even breached her clothing? When? Didn't matter. She called her sister. The phone was picked up on the second ring. “Hello?†“Jenny.†“Helen! Oh god, Helen, it's... look, where are you?†“King street. Look, I... I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to leave Anna with you. Again. I'm so sorry. Jenny, I... I've developed superpowers. I can't... I can't see you any more, it's too dangerous.†“You too?†“What do you mean, 'too'?†“It doesn't matter, Helen. You can't contaminate us. Any of us.†Whiplash knew that she should head for a hospital. She didn't. She got to the rooftops, safely away from any uncontaminated civilians crazy enough to be wandering the streets, and headed for her sister's house. She stopped briefly to stash her whip and utility belt in one of the many rooftop nooks she occasionally employed for such things before she approached the house. Not that her secret identity mattered any more, unless they could find a cure. But she would not be Whiplash inside that house. She would be Helen Crey. Her family was sitting around the table, drinking tea, when she came in. Her sister Jennifer was transparent, like a glass sculpture carefully clothed. As she nervously tapped her fingers on the table, they gave a sharp sound much harder than human flesh, but she seemed to be able to move normally. Jennifer's son David looked much calmer than his mother, and it took Helen a moment to notice that he was actually hovering above his chair. Her daughter Annabelle looked normal. “Anna! Are you sure...?†“There are seventeen mammals within 100 feet of us, not counting people in this room. Two of them are human.†She met Helen's eyes. “I'm sure, Mum.†“Okay. Okay.†Helen closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “This will get better.†“Hel... what do we do?†Helen had never seen Jennifer at such a loss. The collected woman who'd raised her daughter while she was in prison, whose words had convinced her to reform, and who even now continually stepped in to support her and look after Anna even though she thought Helen was still stealing was biting her lip, looking to her for guidance. Helen realised that she couldn't afford to break down. Not now. Her family needed her. The sensible thing to do was to remain isolated, to keep themselves from becoming a danger to the public. But they couldn't sit alone in a house for two months and the hospitals were overcrowded and not entirely safe. “Everybody get dressed. Cover every inch of your skin. If we're already contaminated, there's very little risk in making ourselves useful. “We're going to go restore some order.†---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helen crouched on the rooftop, trying to make out the vague shapes inside the dark electronics store through her binoculars. “You're sure, sweetie?†Beside her, Anna nodded. “Three humans and a dog. Two inside the building, one lookout on the roof two buildings away. Behind that chimney.†Great, an opponent who thought in three dimensions. “Some people and a dog in a trashed shop might just be the owners, but with a lookout... David, fly by for a closer look and make sure you're not seen.†The boy nodded and jumped off the roof, eliciting a gasp from his mother. He started to fall, then slowed, and finally hovered a few inches above the grass for a few seconds before gaining altitude once again. When he came back, he said, “They're definitely robbing the place.†“Alright. David, keep an eye on the lookout. He hasn't noticed us so I don't think he's very good at his job. If he does, distract him. If he leaves, tail him. Jenny, Anna... let's do this.†Helen and Anna entered through the back door and carefully locked the door behind them. Anna confirmed that the thieves were both in the front room, so the two headed there. They watched the thieves wrestle with a particularly large sound system for a few seconds before Helen said, “Okay, boys, time to give this up.†The two looked Helen and Anna up and down, raising their eyebrows at the head-to-toe black costumes. “What are you supposed to be, ninjas?†“No. Cautious. Just out of curiosity, have you two developed superpowers recently?†One of the thieves hurled a bright blue fireball at her. She ducked. “I'm going to assume that's probably a yes.†She raised her hand and flung out her flesh whip, which tied neatly around the firethrower's hands. He responded by lighting them again. Under the sudden, searing pain, she released him. Right. Not a real whip. His friend was headed for the front door, but Jennifer blocked it, her hard, transparent body hidden by her clothing. “Nope, sorry.†The thief sneered and swung at Jennifer, who made no attempt to avoid the blow. The thief's fist landed with a sick, wet crack and she screamed. Jennifer reached up and took her gently by the forearm. “You know who's great at treating broken hands? Hospital. Come on.†Helen carefully tripped the firethrower. As far as she could tell, he could only light his hands, but it was almost impossible to find a way to bind him without getting near his hands. She entangled him in the whip once more and braced for pain, but as he lit his hands, Anna rushed forward with a fire extinguisher and doused them completely in foam. Helen looped more whip around his hands, feeling it move in ways a real whip couldn't. A tentacle, really. She bound his arms to his body, but left his legs free. “Alright, get up. We're going now.†“You're scarily self-assured about all this,†Anna said as they left. “You're eleven,†Helen replied, “you're not supposed to use words like 'self-assured' on a regular basis. And I'm an ex cat burglar, remember? Observation and infiltration are my thing.†“I guess.†Helen didn't know whether the doctors and scientists could save them. She didn't know whether they had only two months to live. She didn't know whether fighting crime or getting carriers off the streets was making any difference at all. But it didn't matter. Whether it was their last couple of months or not, whether their actions had any impact or not, Helen Crey was exactly where she needed to be in a crisis like this; with her family, fighting for a better tomorrow.

Sorry about temporarily vanishing. Streetwise check: 1d20+8=11. Well, that's something.

Chloe quickly inactivated her calming nanites before anybody touched her. She was going to have to keep an eye on that or it could get awkward. She shrugged at Kristin's words. "I just sedated him," she said to Kristin. "A mixture of luck and surprise, I think." Except that was a lie. She'd manipulated him, played with his emotions... and she wasn't entirely sure that that was the right thing to do. Not without permission. Sometimes patients needed to be sedated against their own will for their own safety, but had she gone too far? "It was Serge's... sonic... thing that did most of the damage, I think. Anyway, I'm glad we didn't have to kill the mummy. It wasn't its fault." Sh felt a moment of panic when she realised that people were looking at Saiph hovering above their unmasked heads, but it was unlikely that anybody was looking away from the flying hero long enough to pay any attention to them and nobody seemed to have thought to turn their phones back on mid-marathon and take video. She reminded herself that she really needed to take her uniform everywhere, just in case. Since apparently, even a trip to the movies couldn't be guaranteed to be villain-free.

Chloe gave Heqanefer one last dose of nanites before he was taken away, to calm him from the effects of her fear-inducing nanites. "You know," she said as they cuffed him, "I don't know much about humans but it seems to me that it's easier to inspire long-term loyalty and respect by getting people to like you rather than fear you. If you want to show people the real power of your magic, you might have more luck using it to help them." She quickly checked to make sure that nobody required a quick healing before settling in to enjoy the movie. Only then did she allow herself to acknowledge the tiredness settling into her bones. She was going to have to learn her own limitations. A simple school outing had turned into a supernatural attack, and they'd been able to put a stop to things without anybody getting permanently hurt. If they hadn't been there... It was starting to look as if, if she wanted to help people, coming to Claremont had been the right choice.

Helen was startled out of her thoughts when two arms wrapped around her from behind. "Nice to actually get together for once, sis, even if only at birthdays." "Hey Jen, we saw each other last week." "YEah, when you dropped in for two minutes to drop Anna off. When was the last time we even had coffee together?" But Jennifer didn't look upset. She was grinning. "You know what it's like; you work days, I work nights. But Saturday, we do something without the kids. Okay?" "I'll hold you to that." Their touching moment of sisterly bonding was interrupted when three young adults entered the building loudly and rudely. It took Helen a moment to notice that all three of them were carrying guns. Helen shouted "Get down!" at the exact moment that one of the men shouted, "Everyone on the floor, now!"

Yeah, Medic's not going to keep attacking a guy who's agreed to stop hurting people and is begging her to stop.

"His own daughter?" That sent a chill down Whiplash's spine. Who would... who could... "Alright. We need to find this school, and this girl. I don't suppose you could be a bit more precise on what you mean by 'not quite an innocent', could you?" Please let her have a criminal record. People are so much easier to find with a criminal record. What they needed was names. Revenant could figure it out, couldn't she? She'd been fighting these people a long time. But if they couldn't... "Unless we can figure out how to find this girl and protect her, we may have to interrupt or prevent the ritual itself. Where is Saint Catherine's?"

Whip'd good by Dok Whiplash Spent 5PP total. - Changed defense tradeoff from +2def/-2tough to +1def/-1tough [2PP] - 8 ranks of Knowledge (streetwise). [-1PP] Can I remove 1 rank of Attack Focus (melee) or is it too late to play with that? [1PP] - 1 rank of Defensive Roll to bring Tougness up to 10 [3PP] - added 5PP to whip array to buy 2 alternate powers and up the base power PP to 22, spent as follows: Snare 8 (Extras: Constricting; Flaws: Range [Touch]; Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Reversible) {19/19} becomes Snare 9 (Extras: Constricting; Flaws: Range [Touch]; Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Reversible, Accurate) {22/22} Strike 5 (Extras: Penetrating 8 [as DMG 16]; Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Mighty) {18/19} becomes Strike 6 (Extras: Penetrating 8 [as DMG 16]; Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Mighty, Accurate) {20/22} The two new powers are an electrified whip and a drug cocktail in the handle. Stun 9 (Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Accurate) (21/22) Healing 5 (Extras: Action 2, Total; Flaws: Temporary) (20/22) Also, would it be possible to remove Whiplash's stun gun from her utility belt [-1EP] and buy a gas mask instead [1EP]? Subject: Whiplash (PL 11) - Derin [floatr][img=http://freedomplaybypost.com/wiki/images/1/19/Whiplash.jpg][/floatr] [b][u]Player Name[/u]:[/b] Derin [b][u]Character Name[/u]:[/b] Whiplash [b][u]Power Level[/u]:[/b] 11 [155/160pp] [b][u]Trade-Offs[/u]:[/b] +2 Attack / -2 Damage, +1 Defense / -1 Toughness [b][u]Unspent Power Points[/u]:[/b] 5 [b][u]Progress To Bronze Status[/u]:[/b] 10/30 [b][u]In Brief[/u]:[/b] Whiplash is a reformed cat burglar channelling her skills to defend the innocent. [b][u]Alternate Identity[/u]:[/b] Helen Crey [b][u]Identity[/u]:[/b] Secret [b][u]Birthplace[/u]:[/b] New York City, New York [b][u]Occupation[/u]:[/b] Cleaner [b][u]Affiliations[/u]:[/b] None [b][u]Family[/u]:[/b] Annabelle Crey (daughter), Jennifer Renford (sister), David Renford (nephew) [b][u]Description[/u]:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] 29 ([i]DoB:[/i] 14 September 1982) [b]Gender:[/b] Female [b]Ethnicity:[/b] Caucasian [b]Height:[/b] 5’10’’ [b]Weight:[/b] 143lbs [b]Eyes:[/b] Hazel [b]Hair:[/b] Brown Helen’s features are often vaguely described. Her skin tone could be a pale brown or a tanned white, and her eyes are that peculiar hazel that can look anything from green to brown in different light. She wears her brown hair clipped short but stylish. Helen has no tattoos or piercings. She dresses sharply but inexpensively, in clothing that flatters her form but is usually out of fashion, since most of it is bought second-hand. As Whiplash, her hair is safely hidden under her mask, with a slightly longer grey wig attached. Whiplash wears a skintight outfit and breakaway cape of dark blue-greens and greys designed to blend in with the street night. Her pocketed belt contains most of the tools of her trade, including her distinctive electrified whip. [b][u]Power Descriptions[/u]:[/b] Whiplash doesn’t have any supernatural abilities. She relies on the same skills and incredible dexterity that made her criminal career, with the addition of some weapons training. [b][u]History[/u]:[/b] Helen had a fairly normal childhood. Her natural coordination and dexterity were honed by gymnastics training as a child, a skill that never left her, augmented by karate and judo training. Helen was never very serious about her martial arts, but she was a highly competitive gymnast. As she grew up, her parents encouraged her to compete in more prestigious competitions, but the combination of financial difficulties and her height meant that she would never have a serious shot at a real gymnastics career. Becoming pregnant at age 19 sank any gymnastics ambitions for good. She chose another career instead. Helen turned her trained body to less lawful stunts and became a master cat burglar. She combined forces with information-gatherers and became a cat-for-hire, taking over the dangerous job of actual infiltration. Over the next five years, her reputation grew among a certain type of New York criminal. There were several close calls, but she never seemed to get caught. She was working with a new partner in a two-person break-in of a wealthy man’s home when her partner, Gary Fortwright, crossed the line. While she broke the safe alarm, he went exploring the house, and found their mark’s six-year-old daughter in bed asleep. The girl woke and screamed, and Helen realised that Gary’s motivation was revenge for some slight from their mark rather than greed when she ran in on him trying to strangle the child. They hadn’t woken their client, and Helen wanted to abort the mission, but Gary wanted to kidnap the girl. Helen refused to leave him alone with her, and they were both still arguing when their mark’s unexpectedly well-trained security guards burst in. Helen testified against Gary, but refused to give up her employer or any of her other contacts. Being found defending the girl worked in her favour, and she went to prison for only two years. Her daughter, Annabelle, was sent to live with her aunt in Freedom City, to a stable home far away from any of Gary Fortwright’s friends who might want revenge. Helen befriended her cellmate, a woman with a strong martial arts background, and sought her help to perfect her hand-to-hand combat skills. With constant sparring and the occasional prison brawl as practise, Helen turned her natural dexterity into a weapon. Annabelle was the initial cause of Helen’s reform. Helen saw how hard it was on her daughter to have a mother in jail. Her daughter had been Helen’s primary consideration since she was born, and she vowed to set a better example for her. Once released, she went clean, cutting off her old ties. Better to struggle to provide for them than to risk the law on her back once more. Annabelle had felt betrayed when her mother’s criminal activities had come to light, and Helen wouldn’t fail her daughter again. Helen moved to Freedom City to raise Annabelle. That way, Annabelle wouldn’t have to move again, they were far from any criminal elements that might bear resentment and the local criminals had bigger things to worry about than some ex-burglar they’d never heard of. She hadn’t betrayed any of her contacts except the child-attacking Gary, so her split from the criminal world at large was as amicable as such things can be. Her old friends quietly changed any codes and hideouts she knew about and stopped contacting her. She took a job as a cleaner in an office building, and lived peacefully for a couple of years. One day, she was going to pick Annabelle up from a birthday party when their household alarm went off. She reached the house too late to catch the thieves, who had made off with the television and a few other objects of moderate value, but she noticed how they’d got in; they’d broken Annabelle’s bedroom window. At that moment, the vague concept of ‘some psycho I knew once’ coalesced into a real threat. If Annabelle had been home at the time, they could’ve hurt her. They could’ve hurt her as a witness, or for fun, or because they were too stoned or crazy to know better. Crime wasn’t all harmlessly shifting currency around; people could get hurt. People got hurt every day. Back in her old life, nobody would’ve made it through her window. Helen had protected herself. Since becoming a law-abiding citizen, she’d left that to the police and the heroes; she’d assumed that people who weren’t ‘in the game’ were ‘safe’. But the world didn’t work like that. Annabelle could’ve been killed. Somewhere else in the city, people probably were, that very night. Helen put together her costume and equipment based on the talents she’d spent years honing. Training never really left, and while it took some work to get her body back in fighting condition, she managed it. Now, Whiplash prowls the street at night in defence of the innocent. [b][u]Personality & Motivation[/u]:[/b] Whiplash is unassuming but confident in her skills. While she has a general interest in upholding the law in general, her main drive is protecting people, particularly the innocent bystanders and civilians who never wanted to be involved in crime or violence. She believes that even nonviolent crimes like her own past enable the dangerous ones and risk innocent lives, and thus cannot be tolerated. [b][u]Powers & Tactics[/u]:[/b] Whiplash is an acrobat at heart. She tails her targets with stealth and often uses entry points into areas that most people would dismiss as inaccessible. She has no experience with ranged weapons (in fact, she doesn’t carry a gun because she thinks it would be dangerous – she can’t use it properly, so why make an opponent panic and shoot her?), and instead relies on hand-to-hand combat and her whip and stun gun to distract or defeat enemies. [hr][/hr] [b][u]Complications[/u]:[/b] [b]Secret identity:[/b] Whiplash can’t afford to be found out. Her previous acquaintances (barring those close to Gary Fortwright) have left her alone because she obeyed the code and didn’t betray any of their secrets to the police. If they find out she’s “changed sidesâ€, that could change. [b]Child:[/b] Helen has a ten-year-old daughter. Fighting crime sometimes has to take a back seat to helping with homework, and if anybody did discover Whiplash’s identity, Annabelle would become a walking weak point. Helen has started teaching her self defence for this reason. [b]Old enemy[/b]: Helen moved to Freedom City partly because it was inconveniently out-of-the-way for any of Gary Fortwright’s friends looking for revenge. There are any number of circumstances that could change that. [b]Criminal record[/b]: As well as being generally detrimental to her career prospects and social life, Helen’s past makes maintaining her cover doubly difficult. Helen hanging about a building, looking through security or criminal records, or even disappearing for long periods of time can look very suspicious to anyone who knows her past. Her sister already believes she's gone back to stealing. [b][u]Abilities[/u]:[/b] 6 + 16 + 8 + 4 = 34PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 26 (+8) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 10 (+0) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 10 (+0) [b][u]Combat[/u]:[/b] 8 + 8 = 16PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +11 Melee (+13 with whip), +4 Ranged Grapple: +15 Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 [b][u]Saving Throws[/u]:[/b] 6 + 7 + 5 = 18PP Toughness: +10 (+4 Con, +6 [Defensive roll 3]) Fortitude: +10 (+4 Con, +6) Reflex: +15 (+8 Dex, +7) Will: +7 (+2 Wis, +5) [b][u]Skills[/u]:[/b] 112R = 28PP Acrobatics 15 (+23) [sup]SM[/sup] Climb 10 (+13) [sup]SM[/sup] Craft (electronic) 5 (+4) Disable Device 15 (+15) [sup]SM[/sup] Drive 1 (+9) Escape Artist 13 (+15) Knowledge (streetwise) 8 (8) Notice 14 (+16) Search 14 (+16) Sleight of Hand 2 (+10) Stealth 15 (+22) [sup]SM[/sup] [b][u]Feats[/u]:[/b] 39PP Acrobatic Bluff Attack Focus (melee) 7 Defensive Roll 3 Dodge Focus 8 Eidetic Memory Equipment 6 (30EP) Evasion 2 Hide in Plain Sight Improved Critical (whip) 2 Improvise Tools Jack-of-all-Trades Move-by Action Power Attack Quick Change Skill Mastery (Acrobatic, Climb, Disable Device, Stealth) Uncanny Dodge (auditory) Weapon Bind [equip][b][u]Equipment[/u]:[/b] 30 EP [b]Utility Belt 7 ([/b]14 points; [i]PFs[/i]: Alternate Power 2[b])[/b] [16EP] [array]Grappling hook: [b]Super-Movement 2 ([/b]Wall Climb, Swinging[b])[/b] {4} [b]+ Speed 1 ([/b]10 MPH / 100 feet per Move action[b])[/b] {1} {4+1=5/14} Smoke grenades: [b]Obscure Visual 4 ([/b][i]Extra[/i]: Independentl; [i]PFs[/i]: Slow Fade 3 [1pp/20 mins][b])[/b] {11/14} [/array] Gas mask [1EP] Lock release gun [1] Motorcycle (Alarm 3, secret compartment 1) [13 EP][/equip] [b][u]Powers[/u]:[/b] 15 + 4 + 1 = 20PP [b]Device [/b](Whip, 20PP, easy to lose) [15PP] [device][b]Whip Attacks Array 11 ([/b]22 points; [i]Feat:[/i] Alternate Power 3[b])[/b] [25PP] [array][b][u]Base Power[/u]: Snare 9 ([/b][i]Extras:[/i] Constricting; [i]Flaws:[/i] Range [Touch]; [i]Power Feats:[/i] Extended Reach 2, Reversible, Accurate[b])[/b] {22/22} [b][u]Alternate Power[/u]: Strike 6 ([/b][i]Extras[/i]: Penetrating 8 [as DMG 16]; [i]Power Feats[/i]: Extended Reach 2, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Mighty, Accurate[b])[/b] {20/22}[/array] [b]Stun 9[/b] [b]([/b]Electrified whip; Power Feats: Extended Reach 2, Accurate[b])[/b] (21/22) [b]Healing 5[/b][b] ([/b]Stimulant cocktail; Extras: Action 2, Total; Flaws: Temporary[b])[/b] (20/22) [/device] [b]Device[/b] (Echolocation goggles, 5PP, hard to lose) [4PP] [device][b]Super-Senses 3 ([/b]Sonar [Ultrasonic Hearing; [i]enhancement[/i]: accurate][b])[/b] [3PP][/device] [b]Leaping 1 ([/b]training; x2 - running long jump 26 feet, standing long jump 13 feet, high jump 6 feet[b])[/b] [1PP] [b][u]DC Block[/u][/b] [code] ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC18 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Whip Touch DC19 Reflex (Staged) Damage (Physical) DC24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Stun gun Touch DC19 Fortitude (Staged) Dazed/stunned/unconscious Totals: Abilities (34) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (18) + Skills (28) + Feats (39) + Powers (20) - Drawbacks (0) = 155/160 Power Points Whip'd good by Dok

"Sorry," Chloe growled at the mummy, "but my friends are non-negotiable and you clearly have no control whatsoever over who this guy does and does not decide to hurt." She grabbed his arm. "If there's a way to unbind you from him, this would be an excellent time to share it. I have no wish to hurt you either," she said even as she pushed nanites through his bandages. The nanites in question were designed to remove dead flesh and foreign onbjects from wounds; they should have no trouble with a walking corpse. So, she thought distantly. This is what it's like to try to kill someone. But it wasn't a someone; it was a lump of dead flesh threatening her patients. She'd tackled that before. The only difference was that this time, the dead flesh was several feet away from the patients, who were battling a magician. The magician was the problem. She could put him down. Put him down, and not kill him. Do no harm. She released the mummy and headed for his summoner instead, reprogramming her nanites as she went. Sedation didn't seem to be working once he'd figured out what she was doing; it was time to try something more subtle. Fear... She was pushing herself harder than usual as she grabbed the magician (it was much easier with Glow already telekinetically holding him), allowing the nanites to move into his bloodstream and start building hormones. "I told you to stand down," she growled. "Release the mummy and we might be inclined to be reasonable."

Have I done the calculations wrong, or it it basically impossible to avoid hitting Heqanefer now?

Doktor'd! Medic 1PP - Remove Action flaw on Damage 1PP - Remove Action flaw on Nanite Array 3PP - +1 to Fort save, +2 to Will save 1PP - Buy Improved Grapple feat [url=http://www.freedomplaybypost.com/viewtopic.php?p=136202#p136202]Subject: Medic [PL 7] -- Derin[/url] [quote name="Derin"][floatr][img=http://freedomplaybypost.com/wiki/images/b/b6/Medic.jpg][/floatr] [b][u]Player Name[/u]:[/b] Derin [b][u]Character Name[/u]:[/b] MD273, AKA “Medic†[b][u]Power Level[/u]:[/b] 7 (111/111PP) [b][u]Trade-Offs[/u]:[/b] -4 Defense / +4 Toughness [b][u]Unspent Power Points[/u]:[/b] 0 [b][u]Progress To Bronze Status[/u]:[/b] 6/30 [b][u]In Brief[/u]:[/b] A medical nanite collective/human cyborg out to protect and heal [b][u]Alternate Identity[/u]:[/b] Chloe Thorne [b][u]Identity[/u]:[/b] Public [b][u]Birthplace[/u]:[/b] Tasmania, Australia [b][u]Occupation[/u]:[/b] Student (previously, medical facility) [b][u]Affiliations[/u]:[/b] Claremont Academy [b][u]Family[/u]:[/b] David Thorne (father), Alicia Thorne (mother) [b][u]Description[/u]:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] 17, body is 16 ([i]DoB:[/i] 1994) [b]Apparent Age:[/b] 16 [b]Gender:[/b] F [b]Ethnicity:[/b] Caucasian [b]Height:[/b] 160cm [b]Weight:[/b] 54kg [b]Eyes:[/b] Brown [b]Hair:[/b] Black Chloe is small and pale-skinned, with her black hair cropped short. She favours neat, regimented clothing such as uniforms, and will wear a uniform or prescribed outfit wherever she justifiably can. Her costume is a stylised nurse uniform, designed to be noticed and advertise her services, including a bright red cross on the back of her jacket. Her body sports no scars, not even little marks normally acquired in childhood. She keeps her nails trimmed very short, and almost never wears makeup or nail polish. Medic will often carry a small first aid kit in the field, containing bandages and bottles. This kit is a prop with no practical function; she claims it is used to improve bedside manner. The bottles contain saline and sugar water used as placebos and to disguise her use of nanites in healing. [b][u]Power Descriptions[/u]:[/b] Mimicking her previous activity as an intelligent medical facility, Chloe transfers nanites into people by touch. These nanites are short-lived once away from the her body, and programmed before transfer to affect a specific aspect of the target’s physiology, such as their emotional state or strength. Although she makes no secret of her ability to heal, she tends to downplay the existence of her more offensive powers, such as her ability to sedate dangerous people. [b][u]History[/u]:[/b] MD273, known as “Medicâ€, was created by engineering geniuses David and Alicia Thorne as part of their combined intelligent household and laboratory systems. The Thornes lived alone, ten minutes’ drive from the nearest town, and combined their household and laboratory in a single complex. Somewhat reclusive and distrustful of legal and beaurocratic matters surrounding their work, the Thornes rarely publicised or sold their more unusual inventions, and MD273 was no exception. Medic turned out to be irreproducible anyway; it was programmed to learn and adapt itself to become a better doctor, and some quirk in the development process left the system capable of collectively understanding broad concepts that attempts at reproduction have not managed. Medic had access to the other computer systems in the household, including a vast electronic library. It understood its function as a doctor. It watched old, recorded television and read about the world, developing its own ideas of what it meant to safeguard the health of its patients. The year after Medic first developed any recognisable awareness was the year that David and Alicia had their only child, a girl named Chloe. On Chloe’s 16th birthday, she went out to celebrate with friends, and was almost all the way home before suffering a car accident. David and Alicia had monitoring systems in place to check the health of their daughter, and immediately rushed her into MD273, with the instruction to “heal her at all costs; forget any restriction or limitation that gets in your way, just heal herâ€. Unfortunately, Chloe was already braindead. Medic repaired Chloe’s damaged cells, restarted the heart and fixed the automatic nerve functions. But it could not replace the memories that Chloe had developed over her life. Those connections were lost forever. So it fulfilled its instructions as best it could; by moving its own nanite system into the living but inanimate body of Chloe. When their amnesiac but newly superpowered daughter expressed interest in further developing her powers for the good of humankind, David and Chloe took the advice of a well-connected psychologist friend and enrolled her in Claremont Academy. Medic, knowing that prevention of harm is generally more effective than cure, believes that a doctor’s duty should not extend only to the sick, but that preventing people from becoming injured in the first place is consistent with her programmed function. And if she needs to be a hero to do that most effectively, so be it. [b][u]Personality & Motivation[/u]:[/b] Medic is a doctor at heart, and her personality is built around that function. Her drive to protect stems from the duty she feels to her patients and potential future patients; she believes that not attempting prevent harm is much like causing harm, and that preventing her patients from becoming hurt in the first place is simply a more effective method of healing them. She is attempting to learn how to behave as a human to better work in her human shell and treat human patients. [b][u]Powers & Tactics[/u]:[/b] Medic favours peaceful resolution over direct combat. If forced to fight, she will not do direct damage, instead relying on sedating and calming the enemy. She considers this to be nonviolent, a variation on a doctor sedating a patient that is hysterical or mad with pain. In a group fight, she is most likely to offer support by healing allies and weakening enemies. When possible, she likes to hide the fact that she’s using nanites at all, touching her enemies as subtly as possible and hoping the drugs take effect before they notice the attack. [hr][/hr] [b][u]Complications[/u]:[/b] [b]Do No Harm:[/b] Medical ethics, including the Hippocratic oath and the concept of primum non nocere, are an integral part of Medic’s initial programming. She cannot deliberately cut, bruise, or injure the bones or organs of a living human (ie. Do anything that imposes a toughness saving throw) outside of direct medical assistance (such as surgery). Unless doing so puts herself or others in direct danger, she is obliged to administer aid for lethal damage to any human who requests it, or who is incapable of requesting (such as somebody dying), regardless of allegiance. [b]New human:[/b] Legally, Medic is Chloe Thorne. However, everything she knows about human behaviour comes from books, television, and observing a single family. She’s still trying to figure out her own emotional responses, and how to interact with other humans, which can cause strain and suspicion at times. [b][u]Abilities[/u]:[/b] 0 + 8 + 10 + 8 + 4 + 0 = 30PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 10 (+0) [b][u]Combat[/u]:[/b] 6 + 4 = 10PP Initiative: +4 Attack: +7 Melee, +3 Ranged Grapple: +14 Defense: +3 (+2 Base, +1 Dodge Focus), +1 Flat-Footed Knockback: -0 [b][u]Saving Throws[/u]:[/b] 1 + 0 + 1 = 2PP Toughness: +11 (+5 Con, +6 Defensive Roll) Fortitude: +7 (+5 Con, +2) Reflex: +4 (+4 Dex, +0) Will: +5 (+2 Wis, +3) [b][u]Skills[/u]:[/b] 28R = 7PP Computers [sup]SM[/sup] 11 (+15) Diplomacy [sup]SM[/sup] 5 (+5) Knowledge (life sciences)[sup]SM[/sup] 4 (+8) Medicine [sup]SM[/sup] 8 (+10) [b][u]Feats[/u]:[/b] 12PP Attack focus (melee) 4 Defensive Roll 3 Dodge Focus 1 Eidetic Memory Grappling Finesse Improved Grapple Improved Pin Skill Mastery [b][u]Powers[/u]:[/b] 4 + 4 + 1 + 30 + 7 + 1 + 1 = 48PP [b] Communication 4 ([/b] radio 1 mile[b])[/b] [4PP] [b] Comprehend 2 ([/b] electronics)[/b] [4PP] [b] Damage 6 ([/b][i] Flaws:[/i] limited to non-living; [i]Drawbacks:[/i]full power[b])[/b] [2PP] [b]Nanites ([/b]31PP array; [i]Feats[/i]: Alternate power 2; [i]drawbacks[/i]: full power, power loss [no access to silicon for >12hrs][b])[/b] [31PP] (Medical nanites, technology) [array][u]Base Power[/u]: [b]Fatigue 6 ([/b]Sedatives; [i]Extras[/i]: aura, duration 2; [i]Feats[/i]: sedation [b])[/b]{31/31} [u]Alternate Power[/u]: [b]Emotion control 7 ([/b]Hormonal manipulation; [i]Extras[/i]: alternate save [fortitude], aura, secondary effect; [i]Flaws[/i]: range 2 [touch]; [i]Feats[/i]: subtle[b])[/b] ; [b]Healing 7([/b]Nanite healing;[i]Feats[/i]: regrowth[b])[/b] {30/31} [u]Alternate Power[/u]: [b]Drain fortitude save 7 ([/b]General reaction suppressant; [i]Extras[/i]: aura, duration 2; [i]Feats[/i]: insidious, subtle, slow fade 1 [1pt Fort recovery/min][b])[/b] {31/31}[/array] [b]Regeneration 7([/b]staggered 5, resurrection 1, recovery bonus +1[b])[/b] [7PP] (technology) [b]Super-senses 1 ([/b]radio[b])[/b] [1PP] (technology) [b]Super-strength 3 ([/b][i]Flaws[/i]: duration; [i]Drawbacks[/i]: Power loss [no access to silicon for >12hrs][b])[/b] [2PP] (technology) [b][u]Drawbacks[/u]:[/b] -2 + -2 = -4PP [b]Weakness ([/b]Requires silicon every 24 hours; [i]Frequency[/i]: Uncommon; [i]Intensity[/i]: Moderate (cumulative -1 con drain per hour)[b])[/b] [-2PP] [b]Vulnerability ([/b] electrical attacks; [i]Frequency[/i]: uncommon, [i]Intensity:[/i] Moderate[b])[/b] [-2PP] [b][u]DC Block[/u][/b] [code] ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Damage Touch DC16 Toughness Damage Reaction suppressant Touch DC17 Fortitude (Staged) Drain fort save Sedatives Touch DC17 Fortitude (Staged) Fatigued/exhausted/unconscious Healing Touch DC17 Fortitude (Staged) Healing Hormone manipulation Touch DC17 Fortitude (Staged) Influence emotions Totals: Abilities (30) + Combat (10) + Saving Throws (5) + Skills (7) + Feats (13) + Powers (50) - Drawbacks (4) = 111/111 Power Points

4 HP, huh? New challenge: try to spend them all before the encounter finishes! Attack Hed-Ra with Damage. Attack roll: 1d20+7=9 Screw that. Hero point to reroll: 1d20+7=13 That'd be 23. Save DC is 16. Head over to Heqanefer for move action. Extraordinary effort for another standard action and move action; switch aura to Emotion Control (fear) and attempt to grapple. Attack roll: 1d20+7=16 He's already being grappled *and* exhausted, so that should hit. Save DC for the fear effect is 17. Grapple check: 1d20+14=22 Does she get +2 for Glow's grapple? If so that's a 24. Pin on a success, like usual. I'll spend a Hero Point next turn to leave Medic Fatigued instead of Exhausted.

Whiplash

Random question: did you remember to take Improved Pin into account for Heqanefer's grapple check against Medic? On a related topic, if he successfully breaks Medic's pin, he's still grappled by her, just not pinned. And isn't breaking a pin a standard action? That would give him two standard actions and a move action this round; he's already exhausted, shouldn't that effort knock him unconscious?

"A first born? Is he going to kill a child?" Whiplash didn't know why that seemed so much worse than the killing and endangerment children were put through every day by violent crime, but it did. "Who? Where do they live? Perhaps we can hide them, protect them until we've taken these creeps down." These jerks might be experienced violent criminals and tangle with demons on a regular basis, but they had no idea what they were getting into. She had a whip, she had electricity, she had a giant demon-man and some kind of immortal vampire-or-zombie lawyer (she hadn't figured that one out yet) as allies, and she had a sister with some good locks on her doors to look after her daughter, and nobody, nobody was going to be hurting any kids while she was alive to stop it.

Toughness save against Hed-Ra's attack: 1d20+11=23

Chloe grabbed for the magician again, twisting his arms into an uncomfortable hold. He was much easier to handle with her sedatives running through his system. "Come on, sleep now," she murmured, feeling yet more nanites move between them, but it didn't seem to be working. He was successfully resisting her. "Look, I'm trying not to hurt you," she snapped. "They won't be so considerate, especially since you ruined movie night. Would you prefer to be punched unconscious? Why do you have to do this the hard way?" Time for a new tactic, perhaps.

Whiplash's eyes widened involuntarily at the mention of her name, and she said stiffly, "I prefer not to spread my identity around when fighting people who could very well target my family, thank you." Was that rude? She couldn't afford to offend these people. Images of demons appearing at her house and her sister's house while she wasn't there filled her head. Her little Anna had been taking self defense at her request for some time, but didn't stand a chance against those things. Jenny would grab her son and run, but there was nowhere to run from teleporting demons... She took his hand and forced a smile. "Thank you for your help. We appreciate any help we can get."

Medic 20Q and HellQ Bound in Dust Sharing Space Whiplash Hot Goods The Devil his Due Edit: forgot Birthday Wishes

The HellQ Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. I'm a human/nanite combination and healer. Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? I answer to MD273 or Medic. What is your full birth name? Chloe Andrea Thorne Where do you live? Claremont Academy. I grew up in an isolated laboratory/farmhous in Australia. How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? I was born in 1994, but my memories begin in 1993. Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. Female. My pre-accident memories are from a system that was essentially genderless. How would you describe your heritage? A primarily european mutt. How tall are you? 160cm What is your body type? ectomorph Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? I require regular access to silicon to maintain my nanites. Electricity also interferes with how my nanites work and communicate, making me more vulnerable to it than a normal human. How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? I walk in the most energy efficient manner to travel between points. A smooth gait with an upright posture. Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. My hair is black and my eyes are dark brown. My skin is quite pale, about medium tone for caucasian skin. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? My hair is cropped short to minimise its interference in daily tasks and keep it low-maintenance. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? I do not entirely understand standards of attraction. I think I am fairly average. Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? My skin is physically perfect. Scars and blemishes left by my life experiences are entirely internal. Do you resemble anyone famous? Not that I am aware of. Do you have a dominant hand? I am right-handed. What kind of clothing do you wear? I prefer neat, regimented clothing, such as suits or uniforms. When casual I wear symmetrical, plain-coloured and comfortable clothing. Do you wear makeup? No. What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? My vocal range is not unusual, although I speak slightly more monotonously than usual. I am still learning how to properly inflect. 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? My movements are unusually precise and regimented, which some find unsettling. History Where do you come from? Tasmania. Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? I lived in my hometown until coming to Claremont Academy, where I now live. It is the only major move of my life. 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 feel that both Australia and America are comparatively good countries, with high health, prosperity and freedom. But I have no particular loyalty to either country. How do you feel about the place you come from? It's ok. Nowadays it makes me uncomfortable, as it's full of people I used to know. Where is your home town? What was/is it like? In Tasmania. It was a fairly small town and we lived ten minutes away from it. Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? I was a fairly standard teenager, although I was the only daughter of two genius, isolationist scientists. That was before the accident, of course. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? I'm a good healer. It's what I was designed to do, and what I base my life on. Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? No. Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. That would have to be the accident that merged MD273, the sentient medical system, with Chloe Thorne, the teenager. I'm just now adjusting to a life that my memories in no way equip me to face. What stupid things did you do when you were younger? Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? I was in year ten when I had the accident. My memories of video footage of pre-accident Chloe suggest that I enjoyed it. I don't remember any of my schooling now, but I'm just starting at Claremont. Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I do not. I'm here to make a fresh start. MD273 owned no mementoes, and Chloe remembers none. When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? My psychologist suggested this course of action as a way to help the world and be an efficient healer. Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? No. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? No, although I have been advised to downplay the accident. The existence of my vulnerability to electricity may count as a secret that could cause problems. Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? No, but I am trying to learn social skills. 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? I don't have any secrets. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? I do not have a criminal record. Family What are your biological parents' names? Jason and Alicia Thorne. Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. Chloe and MD273 were both raised by them. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? They were scientists and engineers. They secluded themselves and there generally thought to be crazy, but sold enough patents to maintain their lifestyle and experiments. Where are your parents now? Still in their home in Tasmania. Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? They have not moved house since long before I was born. It would be too hard to move the laboratory. How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). My parents and I used to get along well before the accident. They loved Chloe and were proud of MD273. Now, I just make them uncomfortable. How do your parents view you now, or how would they? I'm not sure they really know how to interact with me any more. Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. No, I don't. I have several sister computer systems. What was your birth order in the family? I am an only child. Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? No. 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 was never obsessed with science or engineering like my parents. Now that I am at least obsessed with medical science, we have bigger issues. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. No. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. No. If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? I have no desire for either, but that may change when I get used to how my human mind works. What type of person would be your ideal mate? A logical, straightforward person whose life goals were compatible with mine. Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. Not really. I don't interact with my pre-accident frie3nds any more. I am getting to know my new roommate, Kristin. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? Probably Kristin by default, as the only person I really know. If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? Presumably my roommate and any teachers who noticed my continued absence. My parents and psychologist would also become worried when informed of the situation. Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? No. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. No, I don't. What is the worst thing someone has done to you? I've been called some unsavoury names. Mostly variations on being a zombie or a murderer. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? I'm loyal to my job as a healer. I have some loyalty to my parents, who raised me and who I used to be programmed to obey. Who or what do you trust the most? Why? Dr McKinney, my psychologist. He seems thew most competent to help me. Who or what do you despise? Why? I don't despise anybody. What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? Restraint, intelligence, and desire for peace and prosperity. I like tot hink I have these qualities. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Malice. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? I don't have a secret identity, but I don't advertise the full range of my powers. I merely advertise that I can heal. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? I work best supporting other people in situations outside my field of expertise. I am definitely not a leader. Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? I'm not on a team, but I do go to a super school. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? No. Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? People who brave disaster and war zones to rescue and treat the injured. Doctors who stay in prisoner of war camps to help the other prisoners. Nurses who stay in the middle of a plague to treat the sick, knowing that if they leave they risk spreading the plague further. Very few of these people are famous, but that doesn't matter. Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? Not that I remember, but my memories of being human don't stretch back very far. Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? I like helping and healing. Being a hero is a good means to that end. Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? If my skills were more needed elsewhere, perhaps. I am not used to being a hero yet. What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? I would like to better adapt to my body and start learning to help the world. What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? I can't think that far ahead. I'm barely used to being outside my own house. What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? Death. I was charged with keeping this body alive at all costs. It was the last command MD273 was given before such commands failed to work. Is there anything you would give your life for? I don't know if I'm even capable of that, it defies previous programming. But I would choose to die to help more people than I could help in the remainder of my life, if such a situation arose. How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it a mark of success, or a means to an end? I don't care much for material possessions so long as I have enough to maintain my health. How do you generally treat others? With respect, and a desire to learn and avoid conflict. Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? I tend to take people at their word. I have not been let down so far, but again, my human memory does not stretch back very long. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? I tend to be quiet and introverted. I do not portray confidence because I do not understand human interaction very well, but I am confident in my abilities. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? I don't currently have a preferred sex. What are your most annoying habits? I seem to have a tendency to overanalyse and answer questions in unnecessary detail. Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? I don't know humans well enough to be contemptuous of any subset. What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? I like bland foods, such as rice or bread. I cannot handle strong tastes very well yet. I eat neither unusually fast nor unusually slow. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? Watered down apple juice. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? desserts tend to taste too strong for me. Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? Anything with a particularly powerful taste. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? I have no opinion on colour, so long as it does not impair vision. What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? I find music to be generally interfering and distracting. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? The smell of oranges. Do you have a favorite animal? Humans. What is your most treasured possession? Why? I do not treasure my possessions. My hero uniform, perhaps, as a symbol of my goal. Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? I prefer to be comfortable. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? I will not torture or harm others. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life? How important is it to you? I am not spiritual. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? Well, I was raised by atheistic, gesnius scientists. I am uncertain whether that had an effect. Could you kill? Have you killed? Not only do I find killing morally abhorrent, I am not capable of it. It's against my old programming. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? It's preprogrammed. Part of my medical ethics. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? To prevent further death. But I still can't do it; it is a moot point. 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? I would be obliged to do everything within my power to prevent the death, no matter who the aggressor was. How would you react if something important was stolen from you? I haqve very little of importance. My important items all have practical value, so I would probably be annoyed at having to replace them. How would you react to public humiliation? I would retreat and analyse the situation for social and judgemental errors on my part. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? Well, I died once. Otherwise it has not. I guess I would do ewverything in my power to preserve their life, but once they are dead there would be little I could do for them. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? Murder. Other violent crimes such as rape and torture come in second, although get extra points for being so pointless. Killing could, theoretically, be constructive, to save others. If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? I honestly don't know. Call my parents, I guess, and then head to the nearest hospital and start healing people. Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? I have the memories of a medical system. Otherwise, no. Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? I'm only learning to be a hero now, at Claremont Academy. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? I can use the nanites integrated in my body to heal or drug others, as well as communicate with electronics. The nanites were integrated into my body in an attempt to ressurect me after I died. Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? I do not do anything else. When I graduate, I suppose I will have to get a job. What is your preferred combat style? I don't fight. I hold people still, and sedate them if I have to. Have you ever received any awards or honours? No. What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I would like to learn to handle myself in combat better. How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? I try to learn from them. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? I get up, go to classes, and study or train in my free time. Interruptions do not bother me though. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? I have few interests, although I expect to develop more over time. What do you do for fun? I'm still figuring that out. Do you have a costume? What does it look like? My costume is a stylised nurse's outfit, to advertise my services. How do you normally dress when not in costume? I wear neat, plain clothing. A uniform if I can. What do you wear to bed most nights? Cottom pyjamas. Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? I don't have any jewellery. Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? No. What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? I take a bus or airoplane. Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? No, I haven't. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? Assuming I didn't regenerate, fingerprinting or genetic analysis are both options. Trace nanites may also be left in my system. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? Healing and protecting as many people as possible. Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? No. My psychologist was worried that I might try to protect humanity by trying to control it. But have neither the capability nor the desire to do that. What do you perceive as your greatest strength? My ability to heal and affect the body. What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? My lack of human experience. 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... Concentrate on the people close to you, and don't worry if you can't heal the world.

20 Questions The young woman sat across from the middle-aged, distinguished looking man and met his assessing look with a blank stare. They were sitting in the dining room, but the standard survaillance had, she had been assured, turned off. She'd checked, of course. Her parents had kept their word. “I'm Steven McKinney,â€the man said gently. “I know.†They'd met before, although she didn't remember. Dr McKinney was a psychiatrist, and before today, their relationship had been entirely social. “What's your name?†“My parents already...†“I know what they want me to call you. But what do you prefer to be called?†The girl hesitated. “Chloe and MD273 are equally accurate. I will answer to either.†“No preference, then?†“Well, Chloe has a legal identity. And MD273 makes my parents uncomfortable.†Dr McKinney nodded. “Alright then, Chloe. Why don't you tell me exactly what happened.†“Shouldn't you have been briefed on this before coming?†“I want to hear it from you.†Chloe had been instructed to be as open and honest with the doctor as possible. “Chloe... I was coming home from a party. My sixteenth. I don't remember any of this, of course, but there was an accident. The driver, my old friend Marcy, suffered abrasions and minor fractures. I suffered much more serious injuries, including severe bleeding. My parents were alerted by the remote monitoring system in my body. The accident was close to home; they could get to the scene much faster than an ambulance. But Chloe was dead by the time they arrived. They took Chloe home, placed her in MD273. MD273 was instructed to heal her at any cost.†Chloe looked down at her hands. “I didn't have a choice. It was a hard command; it supercedes nearly all my other programming. There was only one thing that could be done and they'd ordered me to do it. I... MD273 repaired all body tissues. But the brain damage was too severe, too much information was lost. The human brain can take a lot of damage and remain at least partly functional, but taking out some systems just cause it to stop, and we don't even understand what those systems are. The... the only possible way to leave Chloe as anything more than a braindead patient on life support was for MD273 to migrate into her body.†She looked up again. “My body is fine, but my brain... I'm still trying to figure out how parts of it work. And I only have MD237's memories. If there are any of Chloe's pre-accident memories in here, I don't know how to acess them.†“You said they gave you a hard command. What does that mean?†“It's a priority one command from my parents. Most commands, I obey to the best of my ability withing certain ethical guidelines. Hard commands supercede those guidelines.†“Do they work on you now, after the accident?†“They don't seem to. We haven't explored my limits very well, it... it makes my parents uncomfortable.†“Do you consider yourself human?†“I have a human body and human legal identity. Most of my memories are still encoded in nanites. I assume that my personality will return to what it was before the accident and my mind will become more typical when I learn to properly use my nervous and hormonal systems again.†“Those are facts. I want to know how you feel about your personal identity.†“I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.†Dr McKinney gave up. “Does the fact that you're essentially a sentient nanite collective inhabiting a human body bother you?†“You're a sentient nerve collective inhabiting a human body. I fail to see any important difference.†“What about the fact that your ethics and personality are programmed by your parents?†“You mean, that I think and feel according to how I was programmed? Tell me, Dr McKinney, are you religious?†“Is that important?†“No, it would merely help me to better tailor my answer. Either way, whether by the simple cause and effect of natural selection or a sentient being with an unknowable plan, your personality and ethics are as programmed as mine. The difference is that I know what I was programmed with and why. Surely if one of us should be bothered, it's you.†Dr McKinney nodded. Was that approval? It was hard to tell. “How about you? Are you religious?†“No. And neither of me were before the accident, either.†“Have your views on life changed dramatically since the accident?†“From MD273's, you mean? No. Pre-accident Chloe didn't agree with MD273 on everything, though.†“Tell me about your dreams and ambitions.†“Dreams?†“What do you want to do with your life?†Chloe blinked at him. “I'm a healer. I will heal people.†“Become a doctor, you mean?†“A doctor?†“You can do that, you know. Have you thought about the future at all?†When Chloe didn't reply, he continued. “I'm told you haven't left the house since the accident. You've barely left your room or the medical centre. Why not?†“I didn't... I didn't really think about it.†Dr McKinney nodded. “MD273 was confined to one room. But Chloe isn't. Chloe has legs and a life ahead of her. You should really start thinking about your future.†“I'll ask my parents.†“How do you feel about your parents?†Chloe shrugged. “They're my parents.†“You promised to be as honest and straightforward as possible.†She nodded. “I... I think they blame me for what happened. They're uncomfortable around me, like they don't know how to treat me, and I think they resent the fact that I'm... that I'm different from Chloe before the accident.†“But how do you feel about them?†“They're my parents. They're Chloe's parents and MD273's parents. But I don't think they love me. MD273 was always just a computer to them and Chloe... makes them uncomfortable now.†“So you're tailoring your behaviour to make them as comfortable as possible?†Chloe didn't repond. “What about your friends? Do you have any friends?†“I don't remember my pre-accident friends. One or two have visited. Marcy describes this situation as 'the coolest thing ever', but I don't really know how to interact with her any more.†“How about the family cat? Do you like animals at all?†Pre-accident Chloe had loved that cat. “I've never really seen the point in interacting with nonhuman animals.†“Have your tastes changed? What's your favourite food?†“I'm... still experimenting with food. Taste is overwhelming and takes a lot to get used to. Enough of my original nervous system is intact that my taste in food is fairly similar.†“What about music or movies?†“Those tastes have changed. I don't know what into yetm but I do not enjoy the same things that Chloe did... I mean, pre-accident. “You described yourself as a healer. Do your nanites still work?†“Yes. They have... very limited use now, but I can heal and administer basic drug cocktails with them. As I said, we haven't really explored my abilities. It would be unethical for me to cause damage merely to test my healing abilities.†“Tell me about your ethical code.†“I'm a healer. I'm bound by the hippocratic oath. I believe that health, safety and emotional fulfilment are good; pain and deisease are bad. I commit no harm, and I heal anybody I am able to, making obvious exceptions where it conflicts with a patient's right to control their own treatment.†“Isn't it better to prevent injury in the first place?†“Yes, I consider that to simply be more efficient healing.†Chloe smiled. These questions were far easier than uncomfortable reason ing about her identity and emotions. “So healing the world is your driving motivation, then?†So much for easy questions. “I suppose so? I heal. It's what I do.†“It's not all you have to do, you know.†“It's what I am.†“You say you're sworn not to do harm. But what if you're attacked? Would self-defense me morally okay, to you?†“That wouldn't be a question of morals. I think that logically, committing a small amount of harm to prevent greater harm is defensible, but for me it isn't an issue. It's not that I don't want to do harm; I can't. I'm hardwired against it. So I'd have to find some other way to defend myself by running, talking or, if I have to, sedating my attacker.†“How do you feel about that?†“It is a logical and probably not too inconvenient limitation.†“While you're in this house, perhaps. If you had to leave your family behind and go somewhere else, how would you feel about that?†Chloe thought. “I cannot think of any practical reasons why that would cause problems, except that I have no memories of ever being outside this house.†“It wouldn't frighten you?†“I don't know. I'm not familiar enough with a human body to know what does and doesn't frighten me yet.†“Alright then. Excuse me a moment, Chloe.†Dr McKinney got up and left the room. He'd be consulting with her parents, she knew, safely out of her earshot. Fortunately that didn't matter; healing wasn't the only capability her nanites had. Chloe closed her eyes and used the electronics in her own body to radio the house monitoring system, SC422, and ask it to relay the audio to her. SC422 was supposed to remain offline until one of Chloe's parents switched it back on, but it and MD273 were old friends. “Your daughter is undergoing a serious identity crisis and is in denial about it,†Dr McKinney was explaining to her parents. “This situation is highly stressful for everybody involved and I think that remaining around you, her old school or her old friends could be unhealthy for Chloe.†“But this is her home,†Chloe's mother protested. “We can help her.†“Help her to what, try to imitate a life she doesn't remember? What all three of you need most right now is space, and time to come to terms with the accident.†“We can't send her away,†her father protested. “You have to. You asked me in to give you an honest, professional opinion, David, and that's what I'm doing. For her sake, and yours, and everybody else's.†“This has nothing to do with anybody else.†“It does. That girl is a lot more powerful than a normal human being right now. She could become dangerous if we push her the wrong way.†“Our daughter is not dangerous!†“You raised her to be a good girl, I know. But she doesn't remember that. So tell me, how much ethical, social or career training do you give your medical equipment? That girl's memories belong to something designed to sit in one room, do one job and never leave. Does she understand moderation? Does she understand the idea of freedom and personal autonomy overriding minor negative impacts on health and safety? Does she know how to interact with others or plan ahead in life? She'll need to learn it. And she can't do that here. There are too many people here who remember Chloe before the accident to deal with Chloe as she is now.†“What should we do?†Chloe's mother sounded defeated. “You need to send her away. She needs to be around other people like herself, under the guidance of teachers trained specifically to teach practical moral behaviour and life skills relevant to somebody like her.†“There is nobody else like her.†“Not exactly like her, perhaps, but there is a place designed to handle misfits of all kinds with skill sets like hers. Where she won't be the strangest person, or even be particularly troublesome.†Nobody spoke for awhile, and all Chloe could hear was the rustle of paper being handed around. Finally, her father said, “Claremont Academy? What's that?â€

Chloe will attempt to grapple Hequanefer again, leaving the fatigue aura active. Attack: 1d20+7=26 Grapple: 1d20+14=29 She'll pin him if the grapple is successful. Fatigue save DC is 16, like always. (Here's hoping for that 25% chance of success...) If he fails to save against the Fatigue I'd like to switch the aura to Emotion Control/Healing; if not, I won't take a move action.

At the use of the word "families", Pyre had Whiplash's undivided attention. She'd been prepared to protect her family from drug dealers and thugs if worst came to worst, but demons... that was a whole different game. She had a secret identity; would that protect them? Would they know anyway? She couldn't go home. They might track her, if they hadn't already. She couldn't contact her friends. Too risky. She'd have to call her sister later or... or something. But she needed to stay away from them now. It was Pyre, without a secret identity, whose family needed their attention. "You want to push ahead with this, then? Take these guys down as quickly as possible? If that's where you want to go then I'm with you. These demons have to be stopped." She glanced at his injury. "I'd assumed that you were immune to fire."