Baseball Bat
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Swing, batta batta batta! | |
| Baseball Bat | |
| Player: @SusieBot | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Tanker |
| Security Level: | 1 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Rick Laramie |
| Known Aliases: | n/a |
| Species: | Human/Animal Hybrid |
| Age: | 24 |
| Height: | 6' 2" |
| Weight: | 170 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Yellow |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | U.S. Citizen |
| Occupation: | Former professional athlete, vigilante |
| Place of Birth: | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Base of Operations: | Founder's Falls, Paragon City, Rhode Island |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Known Relatives: | Peter Laramie (Brother), Paul Laramie (Father), Mary Laramie (Mother) |
| Known Powers | |
| Super-Human Strength, Resilience, Flight, Sonar | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Athlete | |
| Equipment | |
| Louisville Slugger | |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
BACKGROUND
Superstar
After being scouted at the University of Maryland, and spending only a year on a bush league team in Michigan, Rick Laramie was called up to the big show. As shortstop and power hitter for the Paragon City Heroes, with a winning smile and an abiding love of the game, he was a hit with fans, and was soon one of the most popular players in the game. He signed a multi-million dollar contract and several lucrative endorsements, and married his high school sweetheart.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough; Rick wanted to leave his mark on baseball by clinching the home run record, but lacked the power to do so. He soon turned to illegal supplements to build muscle mass, experimenting with increasingly powerful and increasingly volatile drugs. After missing the single-season record by three runs, he contacted the Crey Corporation.
Accident
Crey was more than happy to help. They had recently employed Dr. Evolvo, an expert in the field of genetic infusion. Evolvo developed a serum, based on the genetic material of bats, that would increase Rick's muscle mass and reflexes. Rick injected the serum...with disasterous results.
Evolvo's serum mutated Rick Laramie into a monstrous man-bat, grotesquely distorting his face, ears, and legs, and causing him to rapidly grow a pair of wings. Rick attempted to find Evolvo and create a counter-agent, but the Doctor has disappeared, and Crey denied any involvement with him.
When Laramie showed up at the next game, he wasn't even allowed on the field; Crey had already contacted the team and revealed his supplement use. His sponsors quietly dropped him, and his wife fled from his horrifying new form.
Redemption
Rick spiraled down into a deep depression. He lived as a hermit, the view from his window his only contact with the outside world. It was through that window that he saw a family of four being harassed by Council operatives in the street below.
Without thinking, Rick grabbed his favorite bat and leapt from the window. Gliding down to the street, he attacked the thugs, quickly disposing of them. The rescued family, thinking him a registered hero, thanked him profusely as the police arrived to take the thugs into custody.
Energized by the revelation that, with his superior abilities, he could make a new mark on the world, Rick enlisted as a hero with Paragon City. But he never stops searching for the Crey secret that could undo his horrible transformation, and un-make the monstrous hero that is...the Baseball Bat!
PERSONALITY
The Baseball Bat is self-conscious about his horrible appearance, and constantly contends with depression stemming from his downfall. He is reluctant to accept praise or thanks, and will usually fly off without speaking after a rescue.
If he can be coaxed out of his shell, though, Rick Laramie is charming, easy-going, and affable.
POWERS
Super-Human Strength and Resilience
Rick Laramie's DNA has been inextricably mixed with the DNA of multiple animals, predominantly bats. In addition to altering his appearance, this animal DNA has significantly increased his muscle mass. He can lift approximately two tons over his head. This prodigous strength gives him the ability to inflict devastating damage with his weapon of choice.
Rick's altered DNA has also made him incredibly resistant to physical damage. His skin is leathery and covered with thick hair, possessing ablative capabilities that make him resistant to weapons. His accelerated metabolism also grants him astonishing regenerative capabilities.
Flight
The Baseball Bat possesses a pair of wings that grant him the ability to fly.
Sonar
Like most bats, the Baseball Bat possesses a natural sonar that he uses for range-finding, detection, and defense. His acute hearing and sonar sense give him the appearance of preternatural reflexes, making it extremely difficult to get the drop on him.
ABILITIES
Athlete
Rick Laramie's only real talent is baseball. However, this has granted him extraordinary physical fitness and a determination to win that can not be overstated. Against overwhelming odds, the Baseball Bat will never stop fighting.
Equipment
Louisville Slugger
The Baseball Bat wields his favorite bat, a Louisville Slugger, when battling injustice in the streets of Paragon City. With his incredible strength behind it, the Slugger is a devastating weapon.
TRIVIA
- This is what happens when the name makes the character. The Baseball Bat has been rolled a number of times, but with the weapons customization coming in I11, he makes his grand appearance.
- As dumb as the name and concept are, the character is not nearly as stupid as I initially expected; while the name gives him a certain Tick-esque ludicrousness, he owes much more the Batman villain "Man-Bat".
- His origin, obviously, owes a debt of gratitude to Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and all of those other baseball players who can't lay off the HGH. Thanks, fellas!
