Post by link on Jun 22, 2006 17:22:48 GMT -5
Codeword: Pirates?
Full Name: Steven VanGuard
Nicknames: Steve
Codename: Link
Age: 27
Origin: Liverpool, England
Hair color: Black with Grey streaks
Eye color: Silver iris
Height: 6'1ft
Weight: 182lbs
Personality: As with his power Link is one of those people that are more than meets the eye. From his outward appearance he would seem to be just a mild mannered person of little note except for his predisposition to averting his gaze from others. His powers, in combination with his personality remain guarded to those he doesn’t yet know. Only after becoming more accustomed to another will he begin to be less protective, flippant and evasive of questions. Once any kind of trust has been established with another VanGuard is completely loyal, he places absolute faith in others and is extremely protective of both clients and friends. This is because Link adheres to a rather old fashioned sense of duty, once gaining someone’s trust he would never betray and would do anything in his power to protect those he befriends or feels obligated too.
Scruffy by nature and untidy Link prefers being in less formal environments and often seems despondent to some due to his relaxed attitude. As Link spent a lot of his years working for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence [MoD] he is accustomed to detailed information gathering operations and has learnt to use subtlety over brute force on many an occasion both during any kind of operation or privately. It is no surprise that VanGuard wishes not to draw attention to him self as he had issues with being a mutant from an early age, these bordered on the fringe of an inferiority complex.
As a child being different crippled his ability to make bonds with those around him, one reason perhaps why he holds people he regards as friends dearly. Link works best alone though has been known to participate in joint ventures now and again with some degree of aptitude. His most prized quality used by the MoD on many an occasion is his ability to never give up, even when the odds are stacked much against him and all seems hopeless. The MoD also suspected Link of suffering from a Hero complex, putting himself at risk for others no matter what the cost; this was a trait they tended to suppress by urging him with the importance of the many over the few during assignments.
Appearance: VanGuard is reasonably tall and well built for his height, his long dark hair which contains slithers of silver is a product of his power not due to any premature ageing or stress. Not placing a great import on his appearance has given Link the kind of messy casual yet stylish image that some seem to possess. His look is not particularly striking and his usual quiet and casual attitude aid his ability to blend in with the non-mutant populace, a fact which has been hugely beneficial over the years. VanGuard looks the type of person that broods, those with a quiet nature who keep very private lives, yet this is a front. In actuality VanGuard has just been tempered over the years by spending no small amount of time in secretive environments, his nature is really easy going and modest.
Remaining athletic and flexible in combat Link seems to oppose the very nature of his power, when in conflict he easily moves fluidly and with trained precision. He doesn’t appear overtly powerful at first glance, more just tall and limber but his athletic muscles have been strengthened by experience and training. VanGuard can pack a punch, but his true power comes through his ability to soak up damage, his figure and power compliment this attribute of fortitude.
Links silver eyes seem to unsettle some of those he talks too and so he prefers to wear tinted contact lenses to avoid this. When not wearing the contact lenses even his thin glasses have a small tint to the lenses making his eyes seem a very pale blue to those he encounters. This disguising of the signs that he is in fact a mutant is more habit than anything else, as well as his predisposition to making others feel at ease. Whenever seen Link often seems to be looking away into the middle distance distracted and in thought. He is mostly seen to be in his less formal appearance, only for the fact that he doesn’t actively engage in operations with the MoD anymore.
Clothing: Link varies between two different styles of appearance depending on wether or not he is actively involved on an assignment or important mission. The first more serious attire worn on such missions is a severe black suit top with dull red tints too both the sleeve-ends and collar. This is complemented by black formal suit pants, a white shirt usually open at the neck and a loose hanging black thin tie. As in contrast to his usual habit of unkemptness he never the less maintains a presentable appearance whenever he is seen to be working. He wears thin contact lenses that both assist his impaired vision and disguise his unsettlingly coloured iris. Link also keeps his long black/grey hair swept back in a pony tail to keep from impairing his view in more hectic situations that frequently arise when being contracted out. His suit is custom tailored to be light and thin and due to his powers they often end up with ragged holes torn in several places and as such he owns many.
For less formal situations or when not actively working Link instead wears a less formal scruffy black v-neck shirt underneath a loose brown waistcoat. He also dons loose fitting dark brown baggy combat pants with heavy brown and black boots. When in more casual attire Link also wears a thin pair of glasses instead of contact lenses and leaves his long hair un-tied to hang messily.
Relations: None/ N.A
Powers: Natural Armour - Beneath VanGuards skin is a thin layer of organic metal that his body produces naturally. This is Links defence against the hazards he faced while he worked for the MoD, and coming in contact with dangerous mutants while contracting out as a Bounty Hunter later on in life. The thin layer of metal-like polymer is hardly able to stop anything with enough momentum or kinetic energy but it does provide Link with a permanent barrier against danger. This ability is something akin to having a thin full body Teflon vest and has saved him in the past in numerous occasions. On no account does this second skin offer him a lot of protection though, as shock, focused, mental and especially electricity based attacks circumvent its function, the protection only really excels at repelling kinetic damage. For example a focus burst or energy would easily puncture his natural metal but it would offer more protection if he were to be thrown against a wall. Luckily Links natural armour is unaffected by magnetic affects, a fact that is probably rooted in its organic origin.
Chains - (Un-natural, see history, chains were created from his mutant ability, the natural armour) Links chains are the key too his powers, from his wrists and the base of his spine he can extend and retract three chains about three times the length of his arms that serve as good mid range weapons. When extending these chains for combat it has been noted in the past that he becomes like a scorpion, having two main chains at front for frontal attack and one longer chain coming from his back. Link is disdainful about using these chains in public but he will uncoil them to use for combat weapons if the situation appears necessary. Each chain is capable of lifting three times Links own weight. The chains are also useful as make shift grappling hooks, parrying blows from weapons and other useful tools. Links chains are organic in nature, as so he can flex them in such a way like muscle giving him a limited control over their movements. Namely the chains aren’t just inanimate objects that he swings but he can control the arc of attacks or coil and uncoil the chains at will.
In the past one of Links chains has been broken while fighting a rogue mutant. It was found that over time the metal which creates the chains do actually regenrate; however like suffering a broken arm regaining full ability takes months. Over the years Link has become quite adept at using these chains as weapons, he has a very unique style of fighting with them. While searching through mutant profiles while working at the MoD it was noted the similarity in ability with an individual called Omega Reds tendril like appendages, although obviously without the life force syphoning effects.
Links chains are not directly connected to his mutant ability; they did not form naturally but were created using the thin layer of metal that exists beneath his skin, during his best friend’s betrayal. This was also the first indication of the regenative properties too the organic like metal, that after the chains were created the metal beneath his skin grew back after some time. (History)
Iron Iris - A Humans normal iris is the coloured membrane of the eye, surrounding the pupil, which by contracting and expanding regulates the amount of light that enters the eye. After inspection by Morgan Ador, VanGuards old friend it was found that his iris appears to be more sophisticated than that of any regular human. The membrane surrounding Links pupils are made of the same substance beneath his skin and can not only regulate the amount of light entering but in a limited fashion filter out certain parts of the light spectrum. By concentrating Links eyes can focus allowing him too see in a limited sort of infra red. Unfortunately Links eyes have a major draw back. (weaknesses)
Weaknesses:
Iris: Being able too shift through some of the light spectrum has gained Link an invaluable advantage over the years (especially for tracking purposes) yet this comes with its own drawback. Link doesn’t like to reveal it but the shades he wears act as a protection. His eyes are extremely sensitive too bright light, because of his condition if his shades were to be knocked off or his contacts removed he would immediately become half blinded.
Metal Muscle: Because Links chains are organic in nature they possess qualities not so dissimilar too muscle. Correspondingly if the chains come under any pressure, for instance if he is attempting to keep hold of something that is pulling away, the strain on the actual chains would result in pain for Link. If these chains were ever to be broken, it would be the same as if he had broken a limb and would accordingly feel a massive amount of crippling pain. Due to the layer of metal being thin, the protective lining is by no means as strong as the chains are, the chains being heavier and more durable.
Affiliation: Independent
Skills: Link is an excellent tracker, through training and a natural talent bent towards following, finding clues and espionage he has become a Bounty Hunter in America with many connections. Also Link is proficient in the use of computers, his ability to brake into encrypted files, retrieve information from thought to be secure systems are to say the least impressive. This skill has been a major benefit to his evading enemies and retrieving information for the MoD while he still worked for them and the present as he spends his days tracking dangerous mutants down as a Bounty Hunter.
Interests: Computing, Relaxing, Hunting
Bio/History: Steven VanGuard was born in Liverpool England overlooking the old docks and spent most of his childhood wishing he could be normal. Due to his condition he spent very little time outside of his home except at night where he spent many hours gazing into the dark night time waters hating himself for his condition. Mutancy wasn’t a gift for him; all it served to do was act as a barrier between him and others. At first he did not even know he was a mutant, it was kept from him by his parents. All he was told was that he had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which is a degenerative disease affecting the retina, and this was the cause of his eye problems. He was quiet and lonely as a child, having to stay away from bright light and feeling insecure at having to always wear shaded glasses.
After many years of seclusion from others VanGuard eventually found he had other... attributes... that further separated him from normal people. After many accumulated hours of staring across the black waters of the River Mersey he realised he could see things in those waters others couldn’t. His family wondered why he watched across at the water for endless hours; the truth was that when they looked they could see nothing, a black moving surface of waves ebbing and flowing endlessly. As VanGuard looked into the water he could see deeper and make out the heat signatures and silhouettes of the teaming sea life. Each night VanGuard hadn’t been watching the waves but focusing himself to see into the water and detect the endless amount of life swimming through the water, this is what had fascinated him, what he'd truly been watching.
The first person to actually find out what VanGuard could see was another young boy called Morgan Ador who lived relatively close and happened to be walking along the dock front one night. When Morgan stopped by the small strange looking boy and asked VanGuard what he could see the dishevelled looking boy had whispered "Everything" with a voice filled with sadness.
Morgan Ador and VanGuard grew up together, despite Morgan being five years older, becoming inseparable friends after VanGuard had revealed he could see more than others. Morgan inspired VanGuard to begin training this strange ability by catching mice which he picked up with ease, able to find the rodents heat signatures and trails slowly becoming a good tracker. Alternatively Morgan when not meeting with VanGuard to play at night worked at his education slowly becoming an accomplished technician apprenticing at a local weapons creating facility. At the age of just eighteen Morgan was showing an unprecedented ability to create and adapt on existing technologies. Eventually Morgan Ador created his own technological firm creating experimental and sometimes illegal technologies in the name of scientific advancement. Through the years VanGuard never left Morgan’s side and the two became like brothers, VanGuard protected Morgan with his abilities and his recently learned business skills while Morgan strived to help make VanGuard completely 'normal'. VanGuard had only one request, only one thing he'd ever asked from his friend and that was to make him a normal human being. By that point both had realised that his differences made VanGuard a mutant and his insecurities at not being normal strengthened.
All those years of working experimentally with weapons had taught Morgan one thing; he could build any old technologies he wanted out of metal and wires, yet the most untapped and greatest power wasn’t found in machinery but the new breed of humans starting too appear around the world: the mutants. With a newly developed thirst for power he began making plans not to cure VanGuard at all but to change him, to turn his mutant abilities into a weapon. After studying his friend Morgan found out that VanGuard also had another facet to his mutancy, he found the second skin of metal and began theorising ways to exploit it. Under the pretence of working to find a way to make VanGuard normal Morgan began experimenting with different techniques even going so far to capture and experiment on some other mutants without VanGuards knowledge. It wasn’t until later that VanGuard found out about these mutants, he confronted Morgan to find out what was going on why his friend was doing such things. But as VanGuard was about to approach the matter Morgan suddenly revealed VanGuards second mutant abnormality under his skin and also that he could cure him, making him completely human... VanGuard agreed too the operation immediately without questions.
Link finally awoke after the procedure when his body had recovered. The laboratory was vast and filled with all kinds of assorted tools, computers, bio stabilisers and an operating table. He was dazed as he opened his eyes slowly blinking away the sedation; Link was half out still but forced himself to a sitting position with a low grunt. The rooms lights were lowered to a dim orange glow as Morgan of course knew Links eyes were sensitive to the light. It took him a few seconds to realise where he was before it came rushing back. Morgan had gone ahead with the operation too turn him normal.
"Morgan?" Link had called out in confusion swallowing hard in trepidation "Is everything okay?... am I... Am I okay now?" According to his best friend it should have been a simple operation to extract the metal that lined Links muscles and also correct his eyes. Sparks were flying everywhere as numerous pieces of equipment seemed to be overloading around him: Morgan wasn’t there.
Link struggled to his feet slowly from the operating table and to his horror two large chains fell from his wrists, one from his spine. He looked at them in dumb shock before realising what Morgan had done. The betrayal, the deceit the man had used against him was just as numbing as the shock of these, things, now attached to him; a strange sick parody of puppet strings. At 19 years of age Link now considered himself a monster.
It took him sometime to master extending and retracting the new chains but finally when he got the hang of it, he used them to destroy Morgan’s laboratory before hitting the bars and shortly after, rock bottom. Link, as he now liked to call himself, partly out of self hate and as an irony too the chains now attached to him spent almost a year as a vagabond. He wouldn’t go home to his family, never looked for Morgan out of a sense of revenge, just became cold too the world; until one day he was noticed by an agency. He'd stopped a woman being beaten and mugged, driving off the would-be attackers. This notoriety peeked the interests of the British MoD and after a while they located him. Link had no raison d'etre, when offered a meeting he accepted out of no other reason than he was curious. The meeting proved fortuitous, they took him on, trained him and installed him into a new department dealing with Mutant affairs. The next six years of his life he spent between gathering data on mutants to actively engaging a few minor threats in combat. All in the interest of national security, and after being around those who were either mutants like himself or people who accepted him, his self loathing finally drained away. He began to enjoy his participation with the agency and felt his own worth.
Link found out about the Mutant Bill of Rights while working for the MoD, it gave him a sense of relief really that mutants were being recognised and excepted around the world. With a new acceptance of himself and his own kind he moved over to America to begin a Bounty Hunting career hunting down dangerous mutants for the sake of mutants like him self who only want to live normal lives. At the age of 27 he still engages in this operation, seeking and neutralising mutant threats as he finds them, often handed targets from the police in situation they aren't trained to deal with.
Example Post: I’m including a short extract from an old RP were I played the same kind of character I'm applying for here... well "ish"; it was a mutant based site with the same concept of a mutant school for the gifted. If you want a new sample I can write up one pretty quickly. Thx ^_^
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VanGuard smiled answering the man quickly "No; no I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Who you are or what you can do is really irrelevant next to why I’m actually here, and why I cant back away from this." Ein was putting up one hell of a fight considering as of yet had displayed exactly no mutant abilities at all. He had however shown an unusual method of fighting and deadly accuracy with the blades he carried. VanGuard walked close too the man who stood unsteadily before him... one of the mans hands shot out to throw yet another blade but a simple chain strike was enough to knock the hand away dismissively. Steve came in close, his two other chains restraining the bandaged man against the wall behind him roughly. Trying to see past the bandages too were the mans eyes would be he spoke slowly and intently.
"Okay; enough of this, let’s get down too the reason that has brought me here" VanGuard pushed the glasses further up shading his eyes as they shone brightly with conviction.
"Power is a dynamic, a flow system with two possible tendencies, it either accumulates or diffuses. In short it centralises in one area and becomes unstable or spreads and strengthens the whole. Power has to be regulated Ein, and this school holds more power than, hell, most armies on this sodding planet. Even the students here that haven’t killed are a part of it, in the greater scheme of things. As I said power needs to be regulated, here it’s just accumulating, growing with each student that joins. What happens when so much power is amassed in this one place, after so many cursed individuals gather here? Mark my words it will affect their judgement, they'll become a minority with enough strength to enforce there own rules, change things too how they see fit; what’s going to stop them from using it for self aggrandisation? A basic education on life and there own abilities? Doubtful; as the old saying goes, might makes right"
"What’s stopping some of the mutants already here from taking out the government? Or stealing atomic weapons and using those weapons. I’m guessing they could achieve it if they wanted too; if history teaches us one thing it’s this. In the end Power is always used; and with the amount of power this 'school' will eventually wield think of the possible chaos that could entail. At the moment I haven’t witnessed one thing that leads me to believe there is any kind of diffusion or restraint of power here. Accountability is lacking, here in this school there are murderers. Okay so they didn’t mean to kill, their powers are unstable; but they have killed and how are they paying? How are they, trying to gain some kind of redemption? By learning to wield there power more effectively, to become more proficient in its use. So now we have a situation where they can kill with relative ease because they have been taught control; whether they would choose to kill or not is really a secondary consideration next too the fact that it is feasible, more so after learning at this place."
"This school represents so much power, so much unregulated power that I tremble at the thought of the people here turning renegade. What could stop a small army of mutants with powers beyond a mere mortals? What has mankind possibly got that could prevent its destruction if one day a mutant with enough power decided to destroy entire cities on a whim?... Nothing... Nothing at all. Every day a mutant is born into so much power, so much potential for destruction and there is literally nothing in the world that can safeguard the humans in its vicinity, but for the hope that the child will grow up with a good conscience. Now I’ve seen this happen myself and turn out for the worse, I’ve looked upon the corpses of humans that have been flayed alive by insane mutants. The remains of what used to be people before their minds were wiped clean by unfathomably powerful psychic abominations. There are no checks and balances too this school; what reassurances can you give me, that no one in this school will ever harm, another human being? Can you promise me that no one will ever be injured by the power the students in this school posses?... Because if not... I have a job to do... and it’s to stop mutants from becoming nothing short of gods." VanGuard stood eyes narrowed waiting for his answer.
Ein had remained silent for a while as VanGuard laid down his reasons, now he sighed raising his head "Your trying to seek validation for what your doing here Bounty Hunter, reasons, all I’ve heard instead are excuses; what would you have us do then with mutants that are born? Kill them out right? Slaughter the innocent because they Might be dangerous later on, kill children because they Might someday commit atrocities? Your talking like you yourself are not a mutant; and your placing far to much faith in normal society than it deserves, think of all the deaths, rapes, violence and torture that occurred before the onset of mutant kind will you: and do not focus blindly upon assigning blame too the children in this building who for the most part have done nothing wrong. I understand what you mean about this place holding a terrifying amount of power, but the whole point of this place is to teach not to misuse it... perhaps if you attended yourself instead of attacking us outright you would have realised this"
"A waste of time, power always corrupts." VanGuard answered quickly "Eventually something would have happened to harm the people living around this school due too the practices that go on inside these walls" Behind him his chains rose again ready to continue the fight.
OOC: I'll probably have to make alot of changes, just tell me where and how and I'll get right on it
Full Name: Steven VanGuard
Nicknames: Steve
Codename: Link
Age: 27
Origin: Liverpool, England
Hair color: Black with Grey streaks
Eye color: Silver iris
Height: 6'1ft
Weight: 182lbs
Personality: As with his power Link is one of those people that are more than meets the eye. From his outward appearance he would seem to be just a mild mannered person of little note except for his predisposition to averting his gaze from others. His powers, in combination with his personality remain guarded to those he doesn’t yet know. Only after becoming more accustomed to another will he begin to be less protective, flippant and evasive of questions. Once any kind of trust has been established with another VanGuard is completely loyal, he places absolute faith in others and is extremely protective of both clients and friends. This is because Link adheres to a rather old fashioned sense of duty, once gaining someone’s trust he would never betray and would do anything in his power to protect those he befriends or feels obligated too.
Scruffy by nature and untidy Link prefers being in less formal environments and often seems despondent to some due to his relaxed attitude. As Link spent a lot of his years working for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence [MoD] he is accustomed to detailed information gathering operations and has learnt to use subtlety over brute force on many an occasion both during any kind of operation or privately. It is no surprise that VanGuard wishes not to draw attention to him self as he had issues with being a mutant from an early age, these bordered on the fringe of an inferiority complex.
As a child being different crippled his ability to make bonds with those around him, one reason perhaps why he holds people he regards as friends dearly. Link works best alone though has been known to participate in joint ventures now and again with some degree of aptitude. His most prized quality used by the MoD on many an occasion is his ability to never give up, even when the odds are stacked much against him and all seems hopeless. The MoD also suspected Link of suffering from a Hero complex, putting himself at risk for others no matter what the cost; this was a trait they tended to suppress by urging him with the importance of the many over the few during assignments.
Appearance: VanGuard is reasonably tall and well built for his height, his long dark hair which contains slithers of silver is a product of his power not due to any premature ageing or stress. Not placing a great import on his appearance has given Link the kind of messy casual yet stylish image that some seem to possess. His look is not particularly striking and his usual quiet and casual attitude aid his ability to blend in with the non-mutant populace, a fact which has been hugely beneficial over the years. VanGuard looks the type of person that broods, those with a quiet nature who keep very private lives, yet this is a front. In actuality VanGuard has just been tempered over the years by spending no small amount of time in secretive environments, his nature is really easy going and modest.
Remaining athletic and flexible in combat Link seems to oppose the very nature of his power, when in conflict he easily moves fluidly and with trained precision. He doesn’t appear overtly powerful at first glance, more just tall and limber but his athletic muscles have been strengthened by experience and training. VanGuard can pack a punch, but his true power comes through his ability to soak up damage, his figure and power compliment this attribute of fortitude.
Links silver eyes seem to unsettle some of those he talks too and so he prefers to wear tinted contact lenses to avoid this. When not wearing the contact lenses even his thin glasses have a small tint to the lenses making his eyes seem a very pale blue to those he encounters. This disguising of the signs that he is in fact a mutant is more habit than anything else, as well as his predisposition to making others feel at ease. Whenever seen Link often seems to be looking away into the middle distance distracted and in thought. He is mostly seen to be in his less formal appearance, only for the fact that he doesn’t actively engage in operations with the MoD anymore.
Clothing: Link varies between two different styles of appearance depending on wether or not he is actively involved on an assignment or important mission. The first more serious attire worn on such missions is a severe black suit top with dull red tints too both the sleeve-ends and collar. This is complemented by black formal suit pants, a white shirt usually open at the neck and a loose hanging black thin tie. As in contrast to his usual habit of unkemptness he never the less maintains a presentable appearance whenever he is seen to be working. He wears thin contact lenses that both assist his impaired vision and disguise his unsettlingly coloured iris. Link also keeps his long black/grey hair swept back in a pony tail to keep from impairing his view in more hectic situations that frequently arise when being contracted out. His suit is custom tailored to be light and thin and due to his powers they often end up with ragged holes torn in several places and as such he owns many.
For less formal situations or when not actively working Link instead wears a less formal scruffy black v-neck shirt underneath a loose brown waistcoat. He also dons loose fitting dark brown baggy combat pants with heavy brown and black boots. When in more casual attire Link also wears a thin pair of glasses instead of contact lenses and leaves his long hair un-tied to hang messily.
Relations: None/ N.A
Powers: Natural Armour - Beneath VanGuards skin is a thin layer of organic metal that his body produces naturally. This is Links defence against the hazards he faced while he worked for the MoD, and coming in contact with dangerous mutants while contracting out as a Bounty Hunter later on in life. The thin layer of metal-like polymer is hardly able to stop anything with enough momentum or kinetic energy but it does provide Link with a permanent barrier against danger. This ability is something akin to having a thin full body Teflon vest and has saved him in the past in numerous occasions. On no account does this second skin offer him a lot of protection though, as shock, focused, mental and especially electricity based attacks circumvent its function, the protection only really excels at repelling kinetic damage. For example a focus burst or energy would easily puncture his natural metal but it would offer more protection if he were to be thrown against a wall. Luckily Links natural armour is unaffected by magnetic affects, a fact that is probably rooted in its organic origin.
Chains - (Un-natural, see history, chains were created from his mutant ability, the natural armour) Links chains are the key too his powers, from his wrists and the base of his spine he can extend and retract three chains about three times the length of his arms that serve as good mid range weapons. When extending these chains for combat it has been noted in the past that he becomes like a scorpion, having two main chains at front for frontal attack and one longer chain coming from his back. Link is disdainful about using these chains in public but he will uncoil them to use for combat weapons if the situation appears necessary. Each chain is capable of lifting three times Links own weight. The chains are also useful as make shift grappling hooks, parrying blows from weapons and other useful tools. Links chains are organic in nature, as so he can flex them in such a way like muscle giving him a limited control over their movements. Namely the chains aren’t just inanimate objects that he swings but he can control the arc of attacks or coil and uncoil the chains at will.
In the past one of Links chains has been broken while fighting a rogue mutant. It was found that over time the metal which creates the chains do actually regenrate; however like suffering a broken arm regaining full ability takes months. Over the years Link has become quite adept at using these chains as weapons, he has a very unique style of fighting with them. While searching through mutant profiles while working at the MoD it was noted the similarity in ability with an individual called Omega Reds tendril like appendages, although obviously without the life force syphoning effects.
Links chains are not directly connected to his mutant ability; they did not form naturally but were created using the thin layer of metal that exists beneath his skin, during his best friend’s betrayal. This was also the first indication of the regenative properties too the organic like metal, that after the chains were created the metal beneath his skin grew back after some time. (History)
Iron Iris - A Humans normal iris is the coloured membrane of the eye, surrounding the pupil, which by contracting and expanding regulates the amount of light that enters the eye. After inspection by Morgan Ador, VanGuards old friend it was found that his iris appears to be more sophisticated than that of any regular human. The membrane surrounding Links pupils are made of the same substance beneath his skin and can not only regulate the amount of light entering but in a limited fashion filter out certain parts of the light spectrum. By concentrating Links eyes can focus allowing him too see in a limited sort of infra red. Unfortunately Links eyes have a major draw back. (weaknesses)
Weaknesses:
Iris: Being able too shift through some of the light spectrum has gained Link an invaluable advantage over the years (especially for tracking purposes) yet this comes with its own drawback. Link doesn’t like to reveal it but the shades he wears act as a protection. His eyes are extremely sensitive too bright light, because of his condition if his shades were to be knocked off or his contacts removed he would immediately become half blinded.
Metal Muscle: Because Links chains are organic in nature they possess qualities not so dissimilar too muscle. Correspondingly if the chains come under any pressure, for instance if he is attempting to keep hold of something that is pulling away, the strain on the actual chains would result in pain for Link. If these chains were ever to be broken, it would be the same as if he had broken a limb and would accordingly feel a massive amount of crippling pain. Due to the layer of metal being thin, the protective lining is by no means as strong as the chains are, the chains being heavier and more durable.
Affiliation: Independent
Skills: Link is an excellent tracker, through training and a natural talent bent towards following, finding clues and espionage he has become a Bounty Hunter in America with many connections. Also Link is proficient in the use of computers, his ability to brake into encrypted files, retrieve information from thought to be secure systems are to say the least impressive. This skill has been a major benefit to his evading enemies and retrieving information for the MoD while he still worked for them and the present as he spends his days tracking dangerous mutants down as a Bounty Hunter.
Interests: Computing, Relaxing, Hunting
Bio/History: Steven VanGuard was born in Liverpool England overlooking the old docks and spent most of his childhood wishing he could be normal. Due to his condition he spent very little time outside of his home except at night where he spent many hours gazing into the dark night time waters hating himself for his condition. Mutancy wasn’t a gift for him; all it served to do was act as a barrier between him and others. At first he did not even know he was a mutant, it was kept from him by his parents. All he was told was that he had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which is a degenerative disease affecting the retina, and this was the cause of his eye problems. He was quiet and lonely as a child, having to stay away from bright light and feeling insecure at having to always wear shaded glasses.
After many years of seclusion from others VanGuard eventually found he had other... attributes... that further separated him from normal people. After many accumulated hours of staring across the black waters of the River Mersey he realised he could see things in those waters others couldn’t. His family wondered why he watched across at the water for endless hours; the truth was that when they looked they could see nothing, a black moving surface of waves ebbing and flowing endlessly. As VanGuard looked into the water he could see deeper and make out the heat signatures and silhouettes of the teaming sea life. Each night VanGuard hadn’t been watching the waves but focusing himself to see into the water and detect the endless amount of life swimming through the water, this is what had fascinated him, what he'd truly been watching.
The first person to actually find out what VanGuard could see was another young boy called Morgan Ador who lived relatively close and happened to be walking along the dock front one night. When Morgan stopped by the small strange looking boy and asked VanGuard what he could see the dishevelled looking boy had whispered "Everything" with a voice filled with sadness.
Morgan Ador and VanGuard grew up together, despite Morgan being five years older, becoming inseparable friends after VanGuard had revealed he could see more than others. Morgan inspired VanGuard to begin training this strange ability by catching mice which he picked up with ease, able to find the rodents heat signatures and trails slowly becoming a good tracker. Alternatively Morgan when not meeting with VanGuard to play at night worked at his education slowly becoming an accomplished technician apprenticing at a local weapons creating facility. At the age of just eighteen Morgan was showing an unprecedented ability to create and adapt on existing technologies. Eventually Morgan Ador created his own technological firm creating experimental and sometimes illegal technologies in the name of scientific advancement. Through the years VanGuard never left Morgan’s side and the two became like brothers, VanGuard protected Morgan with his abilities and his recently learned business skills while Morgan strived to help make VanGuard completely 'normal'. VanGuard had only one request, only one thing he'd ever asked from his friend and that was to make him a normal human being. By that point both had realised that his differences made VanGuard a mutant and his insecurities at not being normal strengthened.
All those years of working experimentally with weapons had taught Morgan one thing; he could build any old technologies he wanted out of metal and wires, yet the most untapped and greatest power wasn’t found in machinery but the new breed of humans starting too appear around the world: the mutants. With a newly developed thirst for power he began making plans not to cure VanGuard at all but to change him, to turn his mutant abilities into a weapon. After studying his friend Morgan found out that VanGuard also had another facet to his mutancy, he found the second skin of metal and began theorising ways to exploit it. Under the pretence of working to find a way to make VanGuard normal Morgan began experimenting with different techniques even going so far to capture and experiment on some other mutants without VanGuards knowledge. It wasn’t until later that VanGuard found out about these mutants, he confronted Morgan to find out what was going on why his friend was doing such things. But as VanGuard was about to approach the matter Morgan suddenly revealed VanGuards second mutant abnormality under his skin and also that he could cure him, making him completely human... VanGuard agreed too the operation immediately without questions.
Link finally awoke after the procedure when his body had recovered. The laboratory was vast and filled with all kinds of assorted tools, computers, bio stabilisers and an operating table. He was dazed as he opened his eyes slowly blinking away the sedation; Link was half out still but forced himself to a sitting position with a low grunt. The rooms lights were lowered to a dim orange glow as Morgan of course knew Links eyes were sensitive to the light. It took him a few seconds to realise where he was before it came rushing back. Morgan had gone ahead with the operation too turn him normal.
"Morgan?" Link had called out in confusion swallowing hard in trepidation "Is everything okay?... am I... Am I okay now?" According to his best friend it should have been a simple operation to extract the metal that lined Links muscles and also correct his eyes. Sparks were flying everywhere as numerous pieces of equipment seemed to be overloading around him: Morgan wasn’t there.
Link struggled to his feet slowly from the operating table and to his horror two large chains fell from his wrists, one from his spine. He looked at them in dumb shock before realising what Morgan had done. The betrayal, the deceit the man had used against him was just as numbing as the shock of these, things, now attached to him; a strange sick parody of puppet strings. At 19 years of age Link now considered himself a monster.
It took him sometime to master extending and retracting the new chains but finally when he got the hang of it, he used them to destroy Morgan’s laboratory before hitting the bars and shortly after, rock bottom. Link, as he now liked to call himself, partly out of self hate and as an irony too the chains now attached to him spent almost a year as a vagabond. He wouldn’t go home to his family, never looked for Morgan out of a sense of revenge, just became cold too the world; until one day he was noticed by an agency. He'd stopped a woman being beaten and mugged, driving off the would-be attackers. This notoriety peeked the interests of the British MoD and after a while they located him. Link had no raison d'etre, when offered a meeting he accepted out of no other reason than he was curious. The meeting proved fortuitous, they took him on, trained him and installed him into a new department dealing with Mutant affairs. The next six years of his life he spent between gathering data on mutants to actively engaging a few minor threats in combat. All in the interest of national security, and after being around those who were either mutants like himself or people who accepted him, his self loathing finally drained away. He began to enjoy his participation with the agency and felt his own worth.
Link found out about the Mutant Bill of Rights while working for the MoD, it gave him a sense of relief really that mutants were being recognised and excepted around the world. With a new acceptance of himself and his own kind he moved over to America to begin a Bounty Hunting career hunting down dangerous mutants for the sake of mutants like him self who only want to live normal lives. At the age of 27 he still engages in this operation, seeking and neutralising mutant threats as he finds them, often handed targets from the police in situation they aren't trained to deal with.
Example Post: I’m including a short extract from an old RP were I played the same kind of character I'm applying for here... well "ish"; it was a mutant based site with the same concept of a mutant school for the gifted. If you want a new sample I can write up one pretty quickly. Thx ^_^
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VanGuard smiled answering the man quickly "No; no I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Who you are or what you can do is really irrelevant next to why I’m actually here, and why I cant back away from this." Ein was putting up one hell of a fight considering as of yet had displayed exactly no mutant abilities at all. He had however shown an unusual method of fighting and deadly accuracy with the blades he carried. VanGuard walked close too the man who stood unsteadily before him... one of the mans hands shot out to throw yet another blade but a simple chain strike was enough to knock the hand away dismissively. Steve came in close, his two other chains restraining the bandaged man against the wall behind him roughly. Trying to see past the bandages too were the mans eyes would be he spoke slowly and intently.
"Okay; enough of this, let’s get down too the reason that has brought me here" VanGuard pushed the glasses further up shading his eyes as they shone brightly with conviction.
"Power is a dynamic, a flow system with two possible tendencies, it either accumulates or diffuses. In short it centralises in one area and becomes unstable or spreads and strengthens the whole. Power has to be regulated Ein, and this school holds more power than, hell, most armies on this sodding planet. Even the students here that haven’t killed are a part of it, in the greater scheme of things. As I said power needs to be regulated, here it’s just accumulating, growing with each student that joins. What happens when so much power is amassed in this one place, after so many cursed individuals gather here? Mark my words it will affect their judgement, they'll become a minority with enough strength to enforce there own rules, change things too how they see fit; what’s going to stop them from using it for self aggrandisation? A basic education on life and there own abilities? Doubtful; as the old saying goes, might makes right"
"What’s stopping some of the mutants already here from taking out the government? Or stealing atomic weapons and using those weapons. I’m guessing they could achieve it if they wanted too; if history teaches us one thing it’s this. In the end Power is always used; and with the amount of power this 'school' will eventually wield think of the possible chaos that could entail. At the moment I haven’t witnessed one thing that leads me to believe there is any kind of diffusion or restraint of power here. Accountability is lacking, here in this school there are murderers. Okay so they didn’t mean to kill, their powers are unstable; but they have killed and how are they paying? How are they, trying to gain some kind of redemption? By learning to wield there power more effectively, to become more proficient in its use. So now we have a situation where they can kill with relative ease because they have been taught control; whether they would choose to kill or not is really a secondary consideration next too the fact that it is feasible, more so after learning at this place."
"This school represents so much power, so much unregulated power that I tremble at the thought of the people here turning renegade. What could stop a small army of mutants with powers beyond a mere mortals? What has mankind possibly got that could prevent its destruction if one day a mutant with enough power decided to destroy entire cities on a whim?... Nothing... Nothing at all. Every day a mutant is born into so much power, so much potential for destruction and there is literally nothing in the world that can safeguard the humans in its vicinity, but for the hope that the child will grow up with a good conscience. Now I’ve seen this happen myself and turn out for the worse, I’ve looked upon the corpses of humans that have been flayed alive by insane mutants. The remains of what used to be people before their minds were wiped clean by unfathomably powerful psychic abominations. There are no checks and balances too this school; what reassurances can you give me, that no one in this school will ever harm, another human being? Can you promise me that no one will ever be injured by the power the students in this school posses?... Because if not... I have a job to do... and it’s to stop mutants from becoming nothing short of gods." VanGuard stood eyes narrowed waiting for his answer.
Ein had remained silent for a while as VanGuard laid down his reasons, now he sighed raising his head "Your trying to seek validation for what your doing here Bounty Hunter, reasons, all I’ve heard instead are excuses; what would you have us do then with mutants that are born? Kill them out right? Slaughter the innocent because they Might be dangerous later on, kill children because they Might someday commit atrocities? Your talking like you yourself are not a mutant; and your placing far to much faith in normal society than it deserves, think of all the deaths, rapes, violence and torture that occurred before the onset of mutant kind will you: and do not focus blindly upon assigning blame too the children in this building who for the most part have done nothing wrong. I understand what you mean about this place holding a terrifying amount of power, but the whole point of this place is to teach not to misuse it... perhaps if you attended yourself instead of attacking us outright you would have realised this"
"A waste of time, power always corrupts." VanGuard answered quickly "Eventually something would have happened to harm the people living around this school due too the practices that go on inside these walls" Behind him his chains rose again ready to continue the fight.
OOC: I'll probably have to make alot of changes, just tell me where and how and I'll get right on it
