Create a Hero Theme Team!

[BoloOfEarth]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

John McBlane was an NYPD cop for 16 years, decorated for service several times, before he was shot while single-handedly stopping a jewelry store burglary. Though seriously injured, he still managed to catch and hold both perps until backup arrived. But that was only the start of his problems. The perps' lawyers dragged McBlane over the coals, accusing him of excessive force and bringing up the fact that he was off duty and had been drinking at a bar just before stopping the burglary. It didn't help that one of the perps was the son of an influencial city councilman. By the time the lawyers were done arguing, McBlane had lost his badge, his medical coverage, and most important, his good name.

 

Recovering from his injuries, he was surprised when a private organization came forward to cover the bills for his hospitalization and rehabilitation. It was only later that he discovered it was a front for Vigilance Inc. They offered to arm and equip him with the latest weapons and gear, in exchange for him putting his hard-won street skills to use as their own man in blue. Now wearing a modified LAPD SWAT uniform (to misdirect others from guessing his true identity as a former NYPD cop), McBlane now works for Vigilance Inc. as Blue Shield.

[Cygnia]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Ranim Saidani was the daughter of Tunisian immigrants who had come to the US in pursuit of a better life. They were hard-working people, proud of their new home and proud of the effort they put in to be legal American citizens. However, Ranim's parents were constantly harassed by bigots hating their immigrant status, their non-white heritage and the fact they were Muslims. Her parents were assaulted one night by a pack of such bigots. Unfortunately, despite the evidence, the jury still acquitted the perps.

 

Ranim's anger activated a latent metagene, enabling her to fly and project super-heated blasts of dust and wind. She tracked down her parents' assailants, got her deadly revenge, then immediately turned herself in. Sympathizing with her tragedies however the detective she spoke to refused to book her, instead sending Ranim towards Vigilance Inc.

 

She took up the name Khamsin. A devout Muslim, she willingly wears a headscarf and veil, but has no objections if other female Muslims she comes across choose not to. Khamsin is fluent in both Arabic and French as well as English. She always votes in favor of cases that deal with taking out Islamic fundamentalists who have corrupted and perverted her religion in the name of hate and bigots/hatemongers/racists who attack innocent Muslims. She has a deep abiding rage for perpetrators of so-called "honor killings".

[SKJAM!]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Sir Neville Winford was a brilliant young man who studied law and philosophy before being recruited for the Diplomatic Service. His ability to sift through piles of data to discover the nuggets of good information and spot the patterns helped immensely in his African posts. While he was aware of the dangers associated with being a British diplomat, it was not revolutionaries or terrorists who planted the bomb in his car, but ordinary poachers who'd mistaken his vehicle for that of the bush ranger who'd done so much to thwart them.

 

By some miracle Neville survived, despite having essentially nothing left beneath the chest; just enough left of his internal organs to keep going. He was knighted for his trouble, and pensioned off generously. But Sir Neville was still a relatively young man, with a keen brain and most of his arms left. He mastered the use of information technology, and began using it to gather data on criminals as a hobby. When he had sufficient info, he would inform the proper authorities.

 

Eventually, he came to the attention of Vigilance Inc., who had just lost another electronic intelligence specialist, and desperately needed a replacement. Now, as Protocol Four, Sir Neville gathers, sorts and evalutes data between missions to get the best possible intel. During missions, he's the helpful voice whispering important information into the field operatives' ears when it's needed.

 

Despite his personal suffering, Protocol Four is not as fervent about eliminating criminals as his teammates--he'll cold-bloodedly consider what's best for the mission rather than who actually deserves to die most. His mobile HQ is heavily defended and armed, since those that hate Vigilance Inc. know that taking out their intelligence is a top priority.

[Utech]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Vins Larsen had all the brains required to enter a top university. He was fit enough to try out for most any sport he put his mind to. But Vins lacked the ambition to follow through. He earned average grades and made every effort not to distinguish himself athletically. He didn't much like school. Or his fellow students. He didn't much like to study or work hard.

 

He was a great VIPER recruit.

 

Vins got along well with his fellow misfits. The work wasn't really all that hard. They got cool gear. They busted stuff up. They blew it all on fun. Beat the heck out of school. Or working for a living.

 

And then Vins got picked as a member of a backup team working an assault. He was really glad to be out of the line of fire. And in the air-conditioned van. Until everything went bumpy-bits up. Explosions. Capes. Engine wouldn't start. Firefight. Vins' team leader led them through an escape route that looked fine on the map. It looked an awful lot like an orphanage in reality. Because it was.

 

There was an awful lot of shooting. Some hostage-taking. Dead kids. Dead nuns. Vins and three others made it back to the nest. Nest leader was pissed that the operation failed but didn't give two squirts about the collateral damage. Vins went home that day. Never went back.

 

His experience with VIPER certainly wasn't wasted, though. He learned a lot of important weapon skills. Learned how the bad guys think. More than anything, though, he gained ambition.

 

A driven defender of the defenseless, Vins goes by Fangs these days. The fangs in question being the business end of whatever weapon he's using at the moment. He does all right with standard arms and body armor, but really functions best -- and most aggressively -- with the arms and armor of a VIPER agent.

[death tribble]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Grigori Medlev was a promising secret service agent when Yeltsin came to power in Russia. He was secretly sent over to the States to do some work. Said work entailed the liquidation of former Communist sympathisers and sleeper agents who would be embarrassed by the new regime. So Grigori set about his work killing off those who would turn the clock back to the bad old days of the Cold War. In time his work grew to encompass the agents of other powers, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. The people died in accidents be it in cars or justdied of natural causes. There are wonderful poisons that are as yet undetectable. Then Yeltsin was not in power and Putin was. And someone came after Grigori. They weren't that good. Grigori spotted the surveillance and polished them off in an accident. Another agent was dispatched. This one Grigori killed with his own gun. Various agencies became very interested in the odd Russian corpse.

Grigori had a meeting with a Russian sent over specifically to speak to him. They found him a new role and a new employer, Vigilance Inc.

Grigori is a non descript Russian who has been undercover for a good few years. He is also a cold blooded killer and is quite pragmatic about what he does. There is a reason for what is done and killing does solve the problem. He uses the name Karla as a private joke after the Russian spymaster in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy book.

Grigori has taken a particular interest in thwarting the Russian mafia and killing their operatives in car accidents and cerebal haemorrages.

He is not that keen on America but this is where the money is and it is also where a good few targets are and you go where the work is.

[SKJAM!]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Hiram Quillian is a genius, no question about it. He used to operate as one of the country's leading inventors of crime-fighting gear and a consulting detective. His use of the "Sherlock Scan" was famous for its accuracy and speed. Because he was so brilliant, he worked alone rather than have the irritation of explaining things to a bumbling sidekick. Then came the Dalmen case. Hiram solved this particularly vile set of murders in under five minutes. Sure, Mr. Dalmen claimed he was innocent. Most murderers do. Dalmen's family pled with Hiram to reconsider his testimony, to no avail. All the evidence pointed to only one conclusion, and Hiram was satisfied.

 

Until the day after Mr. Dalmen's execution, when new evidence surfaced. Upon investigation, it was learned that Quillian (and the police, the courts and the media) had been fooled by a particularly insidious frame-up planned by a criminal genius. Hiram was filled with despair; his hubris had caused an innocent man's death! Ever since, Hi-Q has worn a prison uniform and shaved his head in penance for his arrogance. He also signed up with Vigilance Inc. to better facilitate crosschecking his deductions with reality.

 

Hi-Q is still an inventor, and will often be carrying around experimental gadgets. (Reliable and useful gadgets are shared with the team.)

[kahuna's bro]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

very gpood skjam

[Cygnia]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Seven years ago, ATF agent Ian James was a hard-working man, but never seemed to have the respect of his peers and co-workers. He had been investigating the case of one John Harrod for some time. Harrod had been considered a "person of interest" to a few unrelated crimes that initially had his involvement be minor. Merely circumstantial or chalked up to coincidence. But the deeper James dug, the more the web from Harrod seemed to grow. The initially thought as unrelated crimes were woven into a pattern of cover-ups, subterfuge and ultimately murder. Still, James found himself begrudgingly respecting --even admiring -- his quarry. In all cases, the victims were linked to their own horrible crimes -- gang warfare, rape, murder, corruption. If Harrod was responsible (or knew who was), they were doing society a favor. He kept his theories to himself. But James knew he had a job to do. If he broke this case open, maybe it would finally break that wall he kept butting up against and earn himself a well-deserved promotion!

 

Ian James found himself trailed by Harrod one night after work. James moved to call for support -- but Harrod asked to speak first.

 

And told him about Vigilance Inc.

 

As Harrod spoke, James found himself agreeing more and more with Harrod's mission. The frustration, the disgust, the need to do something! permanently to the scum who terrorized people. Prisons were becoming a joke, bureaucracy and red tape bloated and tied up the wheels of justice, in law enforcement merit and hard-work was tossed aside for nepotism and cronyism. And when Harrod dropped the bombshell as to why Ian James kept getting denied a promotion, James became a willing recruit. With Harrod's help, he soon faked his death. James, meanwhile, helped Harrod organize things better as his right-hand man, giving Vigilance Inc. the council set-up and the guidelines to help govern affairs. He also helped Harrod come up with the Redjack persona. The two men made a strong team in the years to come, with John working the field and Ian keeping things running smoothly back at base.

 

And then there was the Baton Rouge tragedy. A devastated Ian was the one who took the risk and recovered John's body. Soon after, with the rest of the team's agreement (and with new and improved battle armor), Ian James became the new Redjack -- and the new leader for Vigilance Inc.

 

 

Ian can think of no better way to honor the legacy of his friend -- and lover. Still, he keeps his feelings bottled up and spends most of his time in costume.

 

[kahuna's bro]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

why was det.james denied a promtion

[death tribble]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Marie DuVoge is a pretty French woman who works for Interpol and has a caustic tongue which has meant that she is not going to get promoted. She is however good at her job, just a pain to work for and with. A wonderful cover for Vigilance Inc.

Marie has access to all sorts of information and is a liaison for the FBI so gets to go to America. She is highly intelligent and extremely deadly. When one of the group broke the codes o conduct it was Marie who found him, killed him and disposed of the body.

She does not do a lot of field work but she has access to all sorts of records and if she doesn't, knows who does.

She does not care who is in charge, just that the job gets done.

Her codename is Bulldog, just to throw off prying eyes. It has worked as well.

 

New Team: The Exiles

 

MegaCorp Inc has come up with the idea of forming a team out of a number of people who have not worked in a team before. They are all exiles from their country of origin or from other organisations. The merchandising opportunities and public profiling of the team can't miss !

Your mission should you choose to accept it is to put down potential recruits and why the company thinks they are good material and then under a spoiler why the idea has a Cat's chance in Hell of working. MegaCorp are thinking a team about 6 should be ok but they might need replacements at short notice. So minimum of 6, 9 should be ideal and say 11 max

[kahuna's bro]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Marie DuVoge is a pretty French woman who works for Interpol and has a caustic tongue which has meant that she is not going to get promoted. She is however good at her job, just a pain to work for and with. A wonderful cover for Vigilance Inc.

Marie has access to all sorts of information and is a liaison for the FBI so gets to go to America. She is highly intelligent and extremely deadly. When one of the group broke the codes o conduct it was Marie who found him, killed him and disposed of the body.

She does not do a lot of field work but she has access to all sorts of records and if she doesn't, knows who does.

She does not care who is in charge, just that the job gets done.

Her codename is Bulldog, just to throw off prying eyes. It has worked as well.

 

/QUOTE]codes of conduct you mean a rogue agent?

[The Arc]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

So she's a French Bulldog?

[death tribble]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

codes of conduct you mean a rogue agent?

 

Yup

 

And Arc ? Yup

[SKJAM!]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Golden Boar is the translation of Cao Bei's Chinese codename. Already an impressively-muscled man (if a little stout), Cao Bei becomes even stronger when he transforms into his gold-colored metallic form. (And it's non-magnetic, too!) He supplements this with a martial art that focuses on but is not confined to spears. Golden Boar was once part of a Chinese Zodiac-themed team in the People's Republic, though they were quickly absorbed into the Tiger Squad before they could get a full twelve members.

 

He seems to have done all right in the Tiger Squad for a couple of years, but recently was accused of "counter-revolutionary activities" (the exact nature of which is classified) and had to flee China to avoid arrest. Subsequent interviews have involved him praising democracy and freedom of choice, which appeals to Megacorp (though they would like him to say nice things about capitalism as well.)

 

 

Cao Bei is a sexist pig and extremely promiscuous--his "counter-revolutionary activities" consist of multiple violations of China's "One Child" policy. Once on the Exiles, Cao Bei will alternate between hitting on his female teammates and belittling them as "mere women." He will also sleep with any female civilian or villain he can persuade, and he's not too picky about informed consent.

 

[death tribble]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

MEMO from Research to Marketing

'The Japanese Schoolgirl Hero, Mie Hama, is going to be in America for a while. Some sources say a couple of years. Obstensively the Japanese want this Icon to learn a bit more about the West by beng in the West. Her English is not very good and so we will need a translator. That being said she is a good martial artist and very kid friendly. She's only ever seen in the school uniform which is skirt to the knees and a blazer. There are no 'untoward shots' of her on the 'Net and the Japanese Govt have let the character feature on some products but these are all above board. Provided we keep Playboy away from her and stop anyone from going on about 'Keeping it real', we should get a lot of support from the Churches despite her nationality.

The marketing potential here is awesome. Clothes, accessories, toys, comics, TV, the works. I feel we can make a deal with the Japanese govt and provide her with a couple of gadgets to give her a force field or just a bullet proof costume and then we have an Oriental role model and a way to break into the Japanese and Chinese markets. Market research says she is popular in Japan as there is no nationalist bent behind her.

We have noticed that her name is the same as one of the Japanese actresses in 'You Only Live Twice'. Apparantly this is true as she is a direct blood relation and named after her great aunt.'

 

 

There is no way the Japanese Government will do a deal with MegaCorp. They have kept the secret for years and are not about to let the Americans find out the truth. You see there has only ever been one Japaness Schoolgirl Hero. All the Govt ever did was alter the look every few years. She's not a clone or a robot as some siteshave suggested. She's real, she's human except for her birthdate. 1912. She ages a year once every five ordinary years. The Govt found out and have kept her under wraps while she has been studied. She has seen her mother and father grow old and die and also a younger brother grow older faster than she did. The govt have in over the last few decades moved her from school to school so she learns and interacts with others. She has also been learning self defence since the 1950s. Back in the late 80s she stumbled upon a Yakuza gang threatening someone and when they tried to kill her, she decked them. This was caught on camera, and so the legend of Japanese Schoolgirl Hero started.

The reason she's in the States is that some people are beginning to get too close to the truth. In order to let the curiosity die down, a new Japanese Schoolgirl Hero is going to be made operative in Japan while the original (and only one) is learning the ways of the West. She's not that happy about it but understands the concern. Her ability to learn is as slow as her aging. So while she has learned Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, English is still difficult even after 30 years of learning.

Despite her slowness academically you can still get quite good at the martial arts after 30 years of learning. She has now had over 50 years of training..........

Part of her concern is that the US dropped two A-Bombs on Japan and she is old enough to remember that despite not being at either site. There is also the history she has learned like Pearl Harbor, the treatment of Allied prisoners by the Japanese during the War, the comfort women from Korea and what happened at Nanking.

She has not much to say about her image being sold to make money. However after seeing certain anime, she has been assured that any hentai feraturing her or any likeness thereof will be cracked down on severely. The Govt are aware of how upset she can get after she managed to get to see Battle Royale, which left her in tears and depressed particularly as it was Japanese who made and funded the film.

Her handlers are aware of her trepidation about all things and are keeping an eye on her. They have made sure that anyone using Mind Control or Telepathy receives a very nasty surprise.

 

[Cygnia]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Overheard in break room #7 at MegaCorp...

 

"Bob, did you get my proposal about Fleur de Lys?"

 

"I'm not so sure. She seems a bit...off for what we're looking for."

 

"Bob, listen to me. She's perfect! My sources have told me plenty about her. Sure, her parents were killed horribly in one of those sad Carribbean uprisings somewhere, but she was adopted soon after. No psychological problems according to her parents! And yeah, she's Canadian, but Canada's America's hat, right?" (laughs)

 

"Phil, Montreal though?"

 

"She's fluent in English. And marketing shows the demographic we're targeting really likes a sexy French accent. Plus, you've GOT to see her move! Speedster, martial artist, acrobat -- she's like a snake! You never see or hear her coming! Pure poetry in motion. She's exotic...without being too exotic if you catch my drift. Mixed heritage. But she's not aligned with any of the Canadian super-teams. She's a free agent!"

 

"All right..." (sighs) "Talk to your sources. Let's see if Fleur de Lys is open to moving."

 

 

Fleur de Lys is probably very open to moving. Especially if it takes the heat off of her true identity Fer de Lance, deadly terrorist for Quebecois independence. It is true that her Martinique parents are dead. However, they were accidentally killed by Fer's flesh-destroying poison. Relatives from Fer's father then took her in -- who just happen to be fanatic zealots about "freeing the motherland from Canadian tyranny!" In the States, Fer will look for opportunities to further her cause and humiliate Canada while as Fleur she will secretly spy and steal Megacorp's technology and funnel them back to be used in terrorism back home. If Cao Bei tries anything on her, she will kill him with her poison. Metal, after all, can't cover everything...

 

[Pól Ruadh]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Pat Jennings was an ordinary enough bloke. Born in a small town in outback Queensland, he didn't show much aptitude for schoolwork, and left in tenth grade to try and find work. He didn't have a lot of luck, picking up bits and pieces of short-term labouring jobs here and there which kept him alive, but nothing with any future to it. The only thing he did show much of a talent for was Rugby League football, playing in a number of casual leagues.

This led to him finally being scouted and offered a development deal in Brisbane, and so he packed up and moved to the city.

 

Unfortunately, as part of the regular regimen of tests, the team doctors discovered that Pat was a metahuman, with a standard package of heightened strength, speed, reflexes and durability. He considered fighting crime for awhile, but Brisbane's not exactly a hotbed of alien invasions and high-tech bank robberies, and Pat was no Sherlock Holmes, however, he did get some small amount of publicity when he happened to be in the right place at the right time to rescue some people from a major, multi-car traffic accident.

 

It was this incident that led to MegaCorp discovering him and making the offer for him to join the team. He's young, vital, and photogenic and marketing think his accent and bronzed good looks will play well to the female demographic. They made him an offer, sent him a plane ticket and whisked him away to the Corporation's Los Angeles Office, where they outfitted him with a costume. Being an expatriate Australian in the US, he was keen on the name X-Pat, and despite marketing's uncertain looks and many, MANY alternative suggestions, seems pretty enamoured of it.

 

Still, he's a fit, athletic, good looking bloke. He has a great smile, and a larrikin attitude and tends to poll well with focus groups... what could possibly go wrong?

 

 

Honestly, X-Pat isn't the ticking time-bomb that some of the others are. However, he's lazy, unfocused, extremely undisciplined. He has no tactical awareness or skills, making him more of a liability in combat than anything else.

He's a PR disaster waiting to happen. He's a drunkard with no ability to be diplomatic, often making crass or vulgar comments where they are least appreciated. Essentially, he's a bum, looking for the next free ride, and at the moment, he's riding on MegaCorp's paycheques.

He has his good sides. He's chivalrous after a fashion, and if he finds Golden Boar treating any of the shielas with anything less than absolute respect, he'll definitely have something to say about it, and he does genuinely want to be a good person... still...

 

[csyphrett]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Wounded in Babylon, hounded in the Land of Legends, banned in New York, the Goat Boy has landed on the MegaCorp team due to a mix up. They thought they were getting a mutant who resembled a humanoid goat. What they got was a destructive engine of power in sheep's clothing.

 

Goat Boy has so far hid his most of his magical abilities and spellcasting behind an innocent facade. The corporation have him figured for a small time brick with an ability to eat anything. They have no idea what he can really do when he wants.

 

CES

[SKJAM!]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

"Elegance, seriously? And you want us to put a demon from Hell on the team exactly why?"

 

"That's the closest human vocal apparatus can get to pronouncing his name. And he's a demon who got kicked out of Hell for being good. It'll play to all the Twilight crowd. Darkly handsome fellow, scary monster only not really because he's a swell guy at heart, just enough 'bad boy' to tittilate without freaking out their families."

 

Just as described, Elegance is indeed a demon kicked out of Hell for being "good." In his humanoid form, Elegance can summon and control flames, and is immune to the effects of fire, heat and smoke. He can "shoot" flames if he has a long sharp object to channel them through, such as the trident Elegance usually carries along. He can also turn invisible and summon Soulchains, that bind you with your own sins (but can be broken by true repentance.) If he morphs into his full demon form, Elegance can fly on leathery wings and use claws and fangs to maul enemies.

 

As a demon, Elegance is affected by blessed objects and holy magic. He hopes one day to be accepted by Heaven and lose those vulnerabilities.

 

 

All of the above is true. As far as it goes. But the Hell Elegance was kicked out of was the Hell of Backworld, where the heroes of the Champions Universe are villains, and vice versa. He got deposited in the main universe during the last big crossover crisis, and has decided to make the best of things in his new world. This leads to Elegance sometimes forgetting in the heat of battle what side other people are on.

 

Okay, minor annoyance. The real deal-breaker is that the Champions Universe also has a native Elegance, who is not a good person. He's become aware of his good counterpart, and has decided to have a little fun. Thus the Exiles have two Elegances for the price of one, although they're not cognizant of the fact. (Even their demonic auras look identical at first glance.) Evil!Elegance is careful never to be seen at the same time as Good!Elegance--the invisibility really helps with that. So far, his modus operandi has been spreading dissension and conflict among the team members. ("Cao Bei, you're coming on too strong to Fleur de Lis, and that's why she's not giving you a tumble. You should maybe try the candy and flowers routine instead." "Hi, Fleur de Lis, good to see you. Hey, I just saw Golden Boar injecting some chocolates with a bottle marked 'Rohypnol'. Does that improve the flavor?") Eventually, Evil!Elegance hopes to condemn the whole team to Hell.

 

[BoloOfEarth]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

"So, Phil, how go the interviews with the newest Exiles recruit?"

 

"Not bad, Bill. Marketing loves him, the kid's 18 years old, photogenic as heck. Of course, him being from another dimension makes vetting him a bit hard, so we're having trouble getting an okay from Legal."

 

"Alternate dimension, huh? What's different in that one?"

 

"Kid says the Russkies won the Cold War. He's a real partriotic type, one of his world's US super soldier candidates. Volunteered to come here for help but couldn't get back. He said he'll work with The Exiles in exchange for MegaCorp finding a way to send him back, maybe with the whole team."

 

"Is that going to happen?"

 

"CEO gave his word." Phil chuckled at Bill's expression. "Yeah, the same guy that swore we would pay to clean up our chemical spill in Mexico, then had our lawyers tie up all the claims in red tape. So you know how soon that will happen."

 

"So, what's he calling himself?"

 

"The name he gave us is already in use by Marvelous Comics, so Legal is talking him into changing it. Right now, they're going with Liber-teen."

 

Bill laughed. "I'll bet Marketing just *loves* that!"

 

"Yah, they're not so hot on that one. They were hoping for Captain Liberty, but the kid won't go for it. Says that was the name of the original super-soldier who died fighting the Reds. So for now, he's Liber-teen."

 

 

Liber-teen was actually a deep-cover plant by the Russians, and he sabotaged the cross-dimensional device to ensure nobody could follow him. Since coming to the game world and getting wined and dined by MegaCorp, his mind has been swayed by greed. He rather likes it here and doesn't really want to go back. In the unlikely event that MegaCorp actually does find a way to send him home, he will sabotage that as well. And if anybody from his world finds their way to the game world, Liber-teen will do all in his power to send them packing without him.

 

[SKJAM!]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

"I don't know if she's quite ready for prime time, but I've put Deluxe Girl on our short list. She's the last survivor of the doomed planet Neon, rocketed to Earth at the last moment. Something in Earth's environment gives her superpowers, which she's been using for good and justice. As you can see, she's got girl-next-door good looks."

 

"What kind of powers?"

 

"The standard flying brick package--Flight, Invulnerability, Super Strength (enough to lift and throw a battleship), and some vision powers, we're still testing on that. She's new to Earth, so she's not too familiar with our culture, she'll need a handler. Oh, and she asked about having access to Megacorp labs; Deluxe Girl thinks she may be able to recreate some Neonian superscience for our use."

 

 

"Deluxe Girl" is actually an insectoid shapeshifter from Setent'x, a planet that was deliberately blown up in an attempt to wipe out their plague. He's a male of his species, but adopted a feminine appearance on Earth to allay suspicions. Also in his craft were several thousand eggs which he plans to implant in humans and then fertilize, using the unsuspecting Earthlings as incubators for his monstrous brood. Deluxe Girl has been doing good deeds both to make people trust him, and to keep the Earth in good shape for his people's takeover.

 

The primary hitch in the plan is that Earth's environment gives the Secent'x people superpowers, which was unanticipated. The one egg Deluxe Girl implanted as a field test eviscerated the human incubator before it could survive in the outside world. Thus, he needs to either find a way to weaken the eggs just enough to keep the hosts alive, or find enough superpowered hosts who can survive the experience long enough to hatch viable Secent'x.

 

 

 

New team: The Seven Lights. (seven members, natch.) Originally an all-Catholic group, over the years they've chosen to take ecumenicalism as one of their goals, and now will accept members from any of the People of the Book (Jews, Christians and Moslems.) They act as heroes and lead righteous lives to show the positive side of faith, and to help as many people as they can. All members are deeply but not blindly religious, and they tend to spend their "downtime" discussing theology and philosophy. Oh, and the theme bit: Each member should be somehow related to or exemplary of one of the seven heavenly virtues:

Valour: Pursuit of Courage and Knowledge

Generosity: Pursuit of Giving

Liberality: Pursuit of Will

Diligence: Pursuit of Ethics

Patience: Pursuit of Peace

Kindness: Pursuit of Charity

Humility: Pursuit of Modesty

 

Go for it!

[csyphrett]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Pete Morrisey always had a goal, always chased it. His will pushes him forward against all odds. Every new obstacle is something for him to move through to the other side.

 

Adopting an accidental masked identity as the Living Will has allowed him to turn his determination on helping others will all the will at his command. And he has a lot of that.

 

Much like Pete Cannon, his inspiration, Pete Morrisey can channel his will into superhuman mental and physical feats. All he needs an obstacle to overcome.

CES

[kahuna's bro]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

a nice nod to peter cannon.. THUNDERBOLT

the reptonfa has swung

[Cygnia]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

Naomi & Aisha represent Valour and Charity respectively. On the border of Lebanon and Israel a few months back, there was a bloody skirmish -- made all the more horrific when the entity Michael of the Guardian Angels decided to destroy both sides. There were few survivors. More tragically, both governments chose to spin Michael's attack as a weapon from the other side, entrenching them further into their conflict and warmongering.

 

Naomi, one of the few survivors on the Israeli side, deserted her position in the IDF, abhorred at how her government refused to recognize the truth. On the Lebanon side was Aisha, a nurse for the Red Crescent/Red Cross. Even in the heat of war, she continued to treat all the sick and the wounded, ignoring the concept of friend and foe. The two women came across each other, realizing their experience with the so-called archangel had left them changed. Aisha could take the injuries of others into herself. Her own recovery was enhanced, though healing the wounded did take a lot out of her. Naomi found her reflexes, strength and senses increased. Though skilled in Krav Maga, rather than be a front-line fighter, Naomi instead stays as Aisha's protector. Neither woman hides behind a codename. Much to their sadness, their respective families and countries see them both as traitors.

[BoloOfEarth]

Re: Create a Hero Theme Team!

 

(Humility: Pursuit of Modesty)

 

TV on. VCR on. Play.

 

"Hey Populous! Can you tell us how the Corpus Christi Corps finally defeated Grond?"

 

Populous turned toward the reporter and gave the camera his trademark 'megawatt smile.' "Actually Jimmy, most of the Corps was down when I arrived. They'd kept the damage contained to a three-block area, but... well, y'know, this is Grond we're talking about. So first, I duped out a few of me to keep Grond busy while I got my teammates out of harm's way. Once they were safe, I got back together and started using my combined strength." He shrugged in a self-depreciating gesture that didn't fool anybody. "It took a bit, but I got him down for the count. Let's just hope PRIMUS can hold him this time. I don't want to have to do this again -- I have better things to do on a Friday evening."

 

Naomi walked through the room and stopped to listen to a bit of the interview (Jimmy Dugan was asking Populous about his latest actress arm-candy) and then turned to look at her teammate, John Doe. "My, that guy's a bit full of himself, isn't he?"

 

"You don't know the half of it," John replied as he paused the videotape. "Not two weeks later, his team fought Eurostar. Two heroes dead, one crippled for life, and one other seriously injured. That guy," he pointed at the frozen picture of a smiling Legion on the screen, "was out of town talking to some Hollywood director about appearing in a movie. If he'd been with his team like he *should* have been, maybe things would have gone differently."

 

Naomi saw the sadness in his dark blue eyes, then looked at the same eyes frozen on the screen. She patted his shoulder in a comforting way. "Perhaps. But perhaps what happened is the path he was meant to take -- not one he would have chosen, to be sure, but a necessary one nonetheless." He said nothing, lost in thought, and Naomi was pretty sure he still wasn't ready to talk just yet. She knew from past experience that he didn't like to talk about himself at all, so she just squeezed his shoulder and gave him his space.

 

- - - - - -

 

John Potter, aka Populous, was a duplicating brick. The more duplicates he created, the weaker each one was, to the point that 16 of him were pretty much normal. But combined he was a pretty powerful individual, able to stand toe-to-toe with the toughest foes, so he didn't spend much of his time duplicated. After his teammates were killed or injured, however, his spirit was crushed. The media lambasted him, and rightly so in his opinion. He threw his mask and costume away and vowed, "never again."

 

John began hitting the bottle pretty hard and was living on the street when he first encountered Father Dougherty. The kindly old priest ran a homeless shelter and recognized the disgraced superhero despite his disheveled appearance. Father Dougherty talked to him, never letting on that he knew who the young man once was, and soon they became friends of a sort. He helped John dry out and talked him into helping out at the shelter. John was there when the water heater in the basement exploded. As fire consumed the shelter, John worked feverishly to get the homeless men and women out of the building. And when the TV and newspaper reporters showed up, John ran. Father Dougherty found him several blocks away staring at a liquor store. "Good work you did back there, John."

 

The young man continued staring at the liquor store. "It never goes away, does it, Father?"

 

"No, son, it doesn't. None of it does. You can ask for forgiveness, and I do believe you'd get it, but it won't bring your friends back."

 

John turned to the priest. "You knew?"

 

Father Dougherty nodded. "But that doesn't matter. John, you have to ask yourself: are you going to let the pain use you, or are you going to use the pain?"

 

The priest pulled some strings to get John into the Seven Lights without revealing his past. As John Doe, he provides some of the team's brute force but never taking center stage. And he will never, ever be interviewed if he has any say in the matter. He works very hard at not even being photographed, and thus far nobody except a teammate or two has made the connection between the often-duplicating John Doe and the sometimes-duplicating Populous.