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January 2013 Outside Heesterstadt (formerly Branson), Missouri It was raining when the Wonderbus arrived, a thick, icy-cold storm of freezing rain that would have surely been a blizzard had the weather been any warmer. Warm and insulated through the dimensional craft was, it wasn't hard to feel the chill outside. The bus had folded its way through space and time to come rumbling out onto a deserted stretch of concrete road by a grim, grey lake that might possibly have been more attractive in the spring. As it was, the whole world was grey and brown: the city across the lake, what was Branson on another world, was almost lost beneath the heavy fog which swaddled the area. Shifting his clothing over to the bland, servile pattern his counterpart had worn, Sharl peered through the front windows, just able to make out tall concrete towers and a massive, hovering flag projected against the clouds from the city below like a massive old-style holographic billboard. It was grim. "Everybody get changed," he said, calling back to the passenger compartment as he reached down to turn on the conventional gasoline engine. "The Tronik base is about five miles up this road! We're turning around..." He muttered a bad word in Lor, trying to remember how to work these stupid controls. With all the worries about fighting Nazis and transdimensional technology, maybe he hadn't paid enough attention to how to drive a stupid four-wheeled, rubber-tired bus! Why can't they just use antigravs like civilized people?

Doo doo doo.

January, 2013 When the Young Freedom students got back home from Christmas break, or rather found themselves on campus again steadily for the first time, there was a message for them from Citizen, calling them to meet with him at the 13th Floor right away. Citizen had been very busy in the weeks and months leading up to the break, working with the school and his mentor Miss Americana, on the project they'd all signed on for: the stealth mission to the Erde variant where an enslaved city of Tronik was a cybernetic captive of a collapsing Nazi regime. The shiny, glossy headquarters of the sometimes-troubled team looked busy and lived in as the team got there, and Sharl ushered everyone in with a tight look on his face. The various holo-emitters in the main conference room were all playing images as they arrived, familiar images to those who'd taken their other-dimension classes: massive Nazi super-tanks moving across the landscape of a battered United States, heavily-armed and armored German super-soldiers in combat with determined Resistance fighters, and a thousand other scenes of a world at war. Sharl waved his hand to silence all the machines, leaving only the grim images playing out behind him. Without preamble, he said, "We have to go. We have to go now." He coughed nervously, his image flickering, and added, "Over the holiday, Miss A and I made contact with Erde-Sharl and the leaders of the resistance movement in that universe's Tronik. Their Reich is running out of Ubersoldaten, so they're building an army of combat droids to take out the Resistance. Plague weapons, chemicals, anything designed to destroy organic life. And the worst part is, they're planning to use Tronikians as the software. A sentient program can do things even the best non-AI can't, especially when you destroy the sections that allow for emotion and personality." His jaw tightened. "They've already started. Miss A is in New York getting the last of the parts we'll need for a real gateway, but our departure time is tomorrow." Sharl strongly suspected she was watching, but his relationship with his mentor right now wasn't such that he could ask. "A...defector captured by the Liberty League last year gave us the plans for the base in what the locals used to call Missouri, and the other Tronik gave us the passcodes we'll need to get in without bringing all the Ubersoldaten down on us. The school's been cleared on it and we're all good to go...if you all are still in, that is," he added, a little belatedly. He was a little out of breath, but that was what happened when you still thought you needed to breathe: program or not. "Even though we're not going to get in trouble now that the school signed off on it, we are still putting ourselves in a lot of danger."

September 7, 2012 Sharl wasn't sure what to make of the assignment he'd gotten from Ms. Harcourt, Claremont's hardworking science teacher, but he was there anyway for the "special team project" she'd invited him for. As more of his teammates arrived, it soon became clear that most of Young Freedom, and even one or two faces outside of it, had been invited along for the elective. They were in one of Harcourt's science labs, and Citizen found himself studying the homemade equipment with undisguised fascination as more people entered. _Could she really have made one of these out of household items?_ he thought with a little amazement as he drifted around a big kitbashed cylinder of electronic parts in the center of the room. "Come on in, everybody!" called Harcourt as more students entered. "Those of you who were asked to bring bags, and that's everyone who could, make sure you have those before you find a seat. This will be an overnight trip, and you need to be self-sufficient."

Player Name: Thunder King Character Name: Crimson Tiger Power Level: 10/12 (156/194) Trade-Offs: +3 Attack / -3 Damage, +2 Defense / -2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 38 In Brief: Muay Thai fighting legacy hero Alternate Identity: Mali Benjawan Identity: Secret Birthplace: Freedom City Occupation: Lives with parents, does chores and responsibilities around the house Affiliations: Claremont Academy Family: Father Annan, mother Apsari Description: Age: 20 DoB: August 5th, 1995 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Thai Height: 5'6" Weight: 150 Eyes: brown Hair: black Mali has a pretty, if unremarkable face, with bright eyes and a wide smile. She carries the attitude of a fun loving, sweet young woman. If she's happy, her eyes are like a clear sky. When she's angry or spoiling for a fight, her eyes narrow and become more like a thunderstorm. She has a sinister-looking grin that she adopts when enjoying a fight. She stands at a little over five and a half feet tall, and packs far more muscle onto her slender frame than most would suspect. She favors comfortable, stylish clothing in the latest brands, no longer caring how people react to her physique. She keeps her hair short and often slightly spiky. Since graduating Claremont, she has gotten a lip stud in the middle of her bottom lip, and a tattoo of a tiger on her back near her shoulder. Mali's costume is red and black, designed to resemble a stylized tiger. Her mask covers most of her face. She wears black boots and gloves. The costume is form fitting yet flexible, to allow her to take advantage of her natural agility. History: Mali has walked two paths for her entire life. Her father believes that she should be allowed to choose her own path, and has for her entire life. She likes the taste of Thai cooking (and asian cooking in general), is a Buddhist, and adheres to many Thai traditions. Still, she listens to American music, watches American movies, and embraces her home country. Her family is well off due to her grandfather having invested his money well in the stock market years ago. Her father took that to heart and became an accountant. Now he makes money advising people on how to invest their funds, and invests his own funds wisely. One night, when she was twelve years old, her father sat her next to him and told her a story, the story of Black Tiger, her great-grandfather. Black Tiger had likely been Thailand's first true super hero. He told her stories that his father had told him, how Black Tiger fought against the oppressive government. How he was a champion Thai boxer. Mali sat beside him, eyes wide with wonder. Her great grandfather sounded like an unparalleled warrior. He sounded like the kind of man who's legacy could be followed. Mali did not tell her father, but it was on that day that she resolved to follow in his footsteps. Over the next few years, Mali began taking her Muay Thai training seriously. Her father had been teaching her for exercise and self defense purposes for a few years, but she barely paid attention. Now a fierce fire burned within her that he both admired and worried about. At fourteen, she handily beat her father in a spar. On that day, he abandoned his nickname for her 'little kitten', and changed it to 'little tiger'. She grinned in triumph, knowing she was closer to her goal. She resolved that by her twenty first birthday, she would debut as a superhero. On a cool autumn evening, Benjawan Mali put on her costume and became the Crimson Tiger. She did not, however, anticipate that her father would discover her new double life. He was upset, but, was willing to forgive her. It was decided; she would enroll at Claremont. Mali vanished over the summer for over a month. As far as anyone at home knew, she was visiting family in Thailand. It was only a partial truth. In truth, she was in Thailand. She found an old trainer, one of the true masters. By day she studied under him. It took time to convince him to train a girl, but her skill impressed him enough to pass his techniques on to her. By night, she cut her teeth on Bangkok. She and her cousin Tarrin worked in conjunction, enabling her to sharpen her skills to greater heights. Upon her return to Freedom City towards the end of the summer, she refocused on her crime fighting. Personality & Motivation: Benjawan Mali has no great tragedies in her life. Her parents and both sets of grandparents are alive, and prosperous. No great pain drives her to heroics. She has no guilt, and no angst. What drives her is a burning desire for justice, and a love for a good fight. She is dutiful and respectful to her family and friends, and they love her for it. When in costume, however, she is a different person. She hides a wild streak that loves adventure, action, and a good fight. She tends to be unflappable in a crisis and keeps a level head. Overall, Mali is driven by an inner fire that makes her go out and do things in the world. Powers & Tactics: Mali, the Crimson Tiger, is a Muay Thai fighter. She uses a brutal, efficient, and painful martial art. Against ordinary humans and thugs, she emphasizes fast and efficient take downs. When she's against a superhuman foe, however, she lays on the hurt the best she can. She is a pragmatic combatant that knows that some foes are too strong to fight fair. She wil fight dirty if she feels she needs to. She will never kill, but she knows her enemies might try. Complications: Secret: Very few people know she is the Crimson Tiger, and she prefers to keep it that way. Family: As yet, Mali is not on her own, so she has duties to her family she must fufill Body Image: Mali is a muscular woman. She fears that this might put people off. Enemies in Low Places: Crimson Tiger's tendency to hit the streets means some criminals will know her by reputation. The New Girl: Mali is pretty new to Claremont, and exposure to super powers in general. Never Again: She hates the thought of hurting people, despite her love of fighting. These two concepts inevitably clash. Punching Drug Dealers: Mali has a special distaste for the drug trade which could be exploited by the right people. Violence is never the answer (but it sure is fun): Mali loves a good scrap, and unless her foe is clearly beyond her, she'd rather settle things with a fight than with words. Abilities: 14 + 8 + 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 42PP Strength: 24 (+7) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: 16 (+3) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 10 + 8 = 18PP Initiative: +7 Attack: +13 Melee, +5 Ranged +13 Chakram Grapple: +18 Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3, -2 flat-footed Saving Throws: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15PP Toughness: +7 (+3 Con, +2 Defensive Roll, +2 under-costume), +5 flat-footed Fortitude: +8 (+3 Con, +5) Reflex: +9 (+4 Dex, +5) Will: +8 (+3 Wis, +5) Skills: 92R = 23PP Acrobatics 12 (+16)Skill Mastery Diplomacy 9 (+11) Drive 8 (+12) Escape Artist 8 (+12)Skill Mastery Intimidate 9 (+11) Knowledge (streetwise) 9 (+11) Language 1 (English [Native], Thai) Notice 9 (+12) Search 9 (+11) Sense Motive 9 (+12)Skill Mastery Stealth 9 (+13)Skill Mastery Feats: 54PP Accurate Attack Acrobatic Bluff All-Out attack Assessment Attack Focus Melee 8 Attack Specialization 4 (Chakram) Benefit (wealth) Challenge (Fast Acrobatic Bluff) Dazzling Attack Defensive Roll 2 Dodge Focus 8 Elusive Target Equipment 6 Evasion 2 Fearless Improved Grapple Improved Initiative 1 Luck 2 Move-by action Paralyzing Attack Power Attack Prone Fighting Set Up Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Escape Artist, Sense Motive, Stealth) Stunning Attack Takedown Attack 2 Uncanny Dodge (hearing) Ultimate Effort (Toughness Saves) Equipment 25EP = 5PP Tigercycle [12EP] Motorcycle Size: Medium. Str 20 [2EP], Toughness +8 [3EP] Features [2EP] Alarm 2 (DC 25) Powers [5EP] Speed 5 (250 mph / 2,500 feet per Move action) [5 EP] Chakram: Blast 2 (PFs: Mighty 4, Ricochet 1) [9EP] Flashlight [1 EP] Under-Costume Armor: Protection 2 [2EP] Grapple Gun: Super-Movement 3, Slow Fall, Swinging Wall-Crawling, [6 EP] Powers: 1 + 1 +2 = 4PP Leaping 1 (x2; running long jump 30 feet, standing long jump 15 feet, high jump 7 feet) [1PP] Speed 1 (10 mph / 100 feet per Move action) [1PP] Super Senses 2 (Accurate Hearing) [2PP] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 22 Toughness (staged) Damage (Physical) Chakram Touch DC 21 Toughness (staged) Damage (physical) Stunning Attack Touch DC 17 Fortitude Stun Dazzling Attack Touch DC 17 Fortitude Auditory Dazzle Paralyzing Attack Touch DC 17 Fortitude Paralyze Totals: Abilities (36) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (23) + Feats (54) + Powers (4) - Drawbacks (0) = 156/194 Power Points