Androgyne/Equipment
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Transcript excerpts, "Origin of the Androgyne" (Frank Gordon, WSPDR; 2006): "...despite warnings that the child would face social difficulties, Rudy and Gilda decided against surgical differentiation." "...by all accounts a loving and supportive home environment; Ani was a treasure to the Hesses." "...teasing and mockery throughout the junior high years took a subtle toll on Ani's stability, despite eir parents' positive influence." "...disturbing and mysterious death of five students, all known tormentors of young Hess...identical deformities attributed to mutagenic radiation exposure..." "...a marked change in Ani's personality...aura of confidence and self-possession...immune to taunts and derision..." "...elected Homecoming Regent. Members of eir class who suspected eir involvement in the murders five years prior staged a humiliating display during the coronation..." "...exposed, tarred, feathered..." "...made the climax of 'Carrie' look like a minor tantrum."
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Contents |
Costumes
A habit and a skill that Ani Hess developed during the first Rikti War was travelling light. Never knowing when Rikti ground troops might move into the area they were hiding in, e and the band of survivors e fell in with got used to being ready to vacate their hiding places the instant they heard the whine of teleporters. This is reflected in the sleek, form-fitting minimalism of eir usual costuming, eschewing belts, padding, masks and other extraneous accoutrements in favor of a snug unitard of a durable latex-like material with metal boots and gauntlets. Ani's traditional costume is black with vibrant purple shooting star accents, five in all with a sixth on eir chest colored a pale green reflecting the glow of eir radiation. While affiliated with them, e also maintained and spent most of eir time in a variant reflecting the official design of the Reciprocators costume in blue, black and gold.
Utility Gauntlets
The few things Androgyne carries with em in the field are stored in compartments built into eir gauntlets along the backs of the forearms. Mostly this consists of eir comm unit, which has a flip-up graphical readout built into the foremost panel of the left gauntlet. Beyond its ability to monitor multiple frequencies it provides em little more functionality than a common cellular phone of the pre-camera age. Often the compartments go empty unless e knows in advance a specific tool will be needed for an operation. Eir boots mimic the gauntlets in design but do not conceal any compartments.
Vanguard Armor
Ani's armor is custom-built to eir specifications, lighter and more flexible than the hard suits worn by most non-metahuman soldiers of Vanguard. Originally obtained to simply enhance Ani's profile and silhouette, lend a more intimidating aspect to eir slight frame and improve eir strength, Ani has revamped it with Vanguard elements as eir commitment to their cause has grown. Originally worn in shades of dark grey and lavender, Ani had eir armor resprayed to reflect eir commitment to the Reciprocators while a member.
Battlesuit
When the Vanguard removed the Androgyne from a month-long suspension (for interference in American military activities) so that e could gather a team to contribute to a direct assault on the Rikti's drop ships in July of 2009, Ani turned to Cyberette with a rare professional request. E needed a suit of armor more advanced and durable than eir Vanguard gear, able to not only fly as fast as a drop ship but withstand multiple blasts from their cannons, while remaining as lightweight and flexible as possible. And e'd need it in two weeks. She delivered.
The Androgyne's battlesuit is based off of eir Vanguard armor, but far more advanced and durable, with a few surprises Ani hadn't asked for incorporated, though Jess kept her enterprising in this regard to a minimum to ensure the suit remained as lightweight and maneuverable as Ani needed it. The suit more than proved its worth through drop ship assaults in both the Rogue Isles and Paragon City, and would soon prove even more useful after the Androgyne was stricken threadblind by Seer Carnegie. E made heavy use of the suit then, using a few sonic devices Cyberette included for use as emergency measures to replicate the effects of some of eir abilities and conceal eir condition to allow em to continue to aid eir friends.
After Cyberette was grounded while the effects of her sonic technology were investigated, following the suspicious collapse of a Boomtown ruin, Ani had to give up use of the suit; it has remained secured in Jess' workshop in the Citadel of Defiance since e abandoned Paragon City and returned to the Isles.
