Dead Eye Kid
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Dead Eye Kid | |
| Player: @Drimble Wedge | |
| Origin: | Natural |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Mastermind |
| Security Level: | 20 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Jacob McCormick |
| Known Aliases: | Jacob Grey, the Kid |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 18 |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 175 lb |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Blond |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | US Citizen |
| Occupation: | Superhero |
| Place of Birth: | Homewood, AL |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, RI |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | *None |
| Known Powers | |
| Access to futuristic technology | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Expert marksman | |
| Equipment | |
| Pistols, caltrops, cloaking device, targeting drone, grenades, force field generator, triage beacon, and more... | |
| *Although the Kid's parents are dead, the Primal Earth version of his father is alive. | |
The idea for the Dead Eye Kid was conceived of long before Dual Pistols was added to the game, with his name and likeness made and saved for when it was available. He was first described as one of the alternate versions of Dead Eye Jake and appears in the story "Return of the Reaper."
Contents |
Boy of Two Worlds
The young man known as the Dead Eye Kid is not only from a different time period, but from another world altogether. In an alternate universe where events played out differently than in Primal Earth, he lived and died as the fates decreed. However, due to the interference of time travel and technology from the future he has a new life in the modern day of heroes and villains, taking his place in it wherever he might find.
The Early Years
On the day of March 4, 1880, Jacob Grey was born to a pair of recently married youngsters, Benjamin Grey and Daisy Lou McCormick. Both the teenage children of local farms in the area of Homewood, Alabama, their hurried nuptials were completed before birthing the baby that had made the ceremony something of a necessity. However, the two involved were deeply in love and glad to unite in holy matrimony, anticipating a long happy life with one another.
Within a year's time the couple had moved onto a small house resting on the McCormick farmstead, their family being one of the more affluent of the neighborhood. Despite some misgivings felt by Daisy's family, Benjamin succeeded in building the start of a happy home, contributing his efforts to the working of the land with aspirations of owning enough to provide for his own house, farm, and family in due time. The child was a healthy and beautiful baby boy.
Charles Morgan
It was around this time that a man named Charles Morgan moved into the area. Morgan, a big and burly individual in his mid-twenties, had long established a reputation as a ruffian and troublemaker in his travels west, so much so that he had been on the move for some time to avoid the law. The quiet southern town of Homewood thus became his new haunt for a while as he frequented whatever bars and seedy establishments the surrounding county had to offer.
It was during a visit at a local barn dance that Morgan would first set his sights on Benny Grey and Daisy Lou, the latter leaving much more of a lasting impression in the scoundrel’s mind. After an initial refusal to dance by the young lady early in the evening, Morgan would spend the rest of the night becoming more and more drunk while his eyes never left the golden-haired girl spending time with the homegrown farm boy. Later that evening, as the festivities died down and people began to depart, Benny and Daisy were unaware of a skulking, stumbling blackguard dogging their steps under the cloak of night. When at last the couple had entered a deserted country field on their way home, Morgan made his presence known. Benny had time enough to turn around before being bashed in the skull with the butt of a gun and was immediately killed. Daisy, on the other hand, was not treated nearly as nice by their mutual attacker, and unfortunately remained wide awake for most of the events that would follow that night.
Days later the bodies were found, but not before giving their killer ample time to leave town.
Becoming the Kid
In the aftermath of his parents' death it was decided that baby Jacob would stay with his mother's family, the McCormick's, who were better equipped to deal with the new child than the dirt-poor Grey family. The child's last name was changed to reflect this, and his grandparents raised him as their own.
Despite their good intentions, the McCormick household proved an unfortunate childhood home for young Jacob. Daisy's death created a general malaise of depression which transferred into an unfocused resentment of the child itself. Jacob could not understand where these feelings came from, as the McCormick's would never explain their unwillingness to talk about the past or their estrangement to the nearby Grey family. In return the boy became sullen and unruly, causing more problems for his grandparents.
It was not until about the age of 10 did Jacob finally learn about the details of his parent's death, the news of which came in the form of gossip generally known around town. This caused him to dig deeper, and eventually the full account of their murder was made known to him. At last he had a proper outlet for his feelings of angst and anger--Charles Morgan, the man who murdered his parents and denied him the happy life he might have had with them. Jacob could learn no news of what became of the man after he left Homewood, however, causing him to conclude that he went back west to escape justice. This fact buried itself into his brain and continued to weigh on his thoughts ever after. At the age of 13 Jacob finally made the choice to leave home and travel west, both to find his fortune and to track down his parent's killer and see that justice was done.
The next few years of his life were filled with hardship and adventure of all kinds. At first traveling with groups and making what money he could, Jacob gained experience in many odd jobs. Expecting that finding and meeting Morgan might result in a violent encounter, he soon acquired a gun and began practicing regularly whenever he could. He soon became handy with the firearm, and soon whole new career options were open to him. Jacob accepted these jobs as a gunman, gaining a trifle more cash in return for putting his life on the line. These jobs ranged from protecting a rancher's cattle from thieves to aiding outlaws robbing stagecoaches. Jacob did not much care either way.
Over time a trade name became attached to his fame. For his quick work with a gun and unerring aim people began to call him the Dead Eye Kid.
Retribution
At all times Jacob kept his eyes and ears open for news about Charles Morgan. In the summer of 1896 this finally paid off as he gained firsthand knowledge from Morgan's former crony about where his old boss was currently holed up. After years of evading US marshals from numerous crimes in several states, the despicable Morgan had secretly taken up residence in a secluded cabin deep in the woods of what was then called the Montana Territory. Known only to the few men he trusted, and now the Kid, Jacob wasted no time in making the hideout his next destination.
What the Kid did not know, however, was to what extent the long years of hiding from the law had made the aged desperado paranoid and suspicious. To this end a series of modified hunting traps had been hidden on the surrounding land, one of which caught and injured the Kid. Thus found by outlaw, and at his mercy, he was bound and dragged away to Morgan's home. The next several days were easily the worst of the Kid's life as Morgan sadistically tortured the young man for information and amusement, including taking a knife to his face and carving out his left eye. Jacob wisely told him nothing, knowing that it was his silence that prolonged his life.
It finally happened one night that the Kid was able to escape his bonds and stealthily sneak to where Morgan slept. Despite his weakened state he was able to secure Morgan's gun before he awoke. A struggle ensued, but in moments Charles Morgan lost his life, along with his chest, in one blast of a rifle. Weeks later, after recovering from his injuries, Jacob set the house ablaze and rode away, his parent's memory avenged.
Death
For the next year following Morgan's death the Kid took part in many adventures across the open plane, developing a more gregarious personality and becoming something of a romantic. It was this second trait that helped lead him to an untimely end when he visited the town of El Paso, Texas. There he became infatuated with a Mexican dancing girl, yet got into an argument when a local cowboy declared similar intentions for the woman. This escalated to the issuing of threats, which the Kid followed up quickly and decisively by shooting the man in plain sight.
Jacob wisely fled the scene after that, yet his desire to see the woman again for which he had killed overcame his senses soon after. Days later he attempted to sneak back into the town for a secret rendezvous, but by then a posse of the deceased cowboy's friends and local authorities had gathered in wait for the Dead Eye Kid, expecting such a move. Shot several times, he died in his lover's arms, killed in the month of May of 1897.
Rebirth and the Reaper
The Kid was buried in a small cemetery outside of town. One night, several weeks after his demise, a shaft of light appeared over the grave, out of which stepped a strangely armored individual known as the Quantum Reaper, a former Mender of Ouroboros. After scanning the earth beneath him to confirm that it was indeed the final resting place of Jacob McCormick, the Reaper accessed a form of remote teleportation to remove the body while leaving the grounds undisturbed. The time-traveling grave robber disappeared soon after.
It may be impossible to estimate how long the Kid's body remained inside the Quantum Mender's secret facility and laboratory, a place which exists out of the normal flow of time. There his corpse was moved to a regeneration chamber, a device based on medical technology of a far future. While his body was regrown cell-for-cell, a more invasive procedure using genetically engineered microbe constructors repaired and duplicated the former synaptic pathways of his brain. In essence, the Kid was brought back to life, but not before an extra device was implanted: a cerebral receiver, better known as a "slave circuit," which allowed the Quantum Reaper to transmit irresistible commands directly to his brain.
Once complete, the Reaper took the Kid, along with a similarly mind-controlled version of his mother from an alternate time-line, back to the Primal Earth version of the year 1881 to complete the final phase of his master plan. There, as expected, the Primal Earth version of the Kid's father, Dead Eye Jake appeared to stop him, whereupon the Kid and Jane were ordered to attack and kill him. Predictably, Jake initially fled rather than be forced to kill the wife and son he never had, which began a deadly chase within the backwoods of Homewood, Alabama.
The crafty outlaw eventually managed to subdue and incapacitate both mother and son, and eventually confronted the Quantum Reaper one last time. When all was said and done, and the events of the night transpired, the Reaper, defeated, released his mental control over the Kid and his mother. Revealing himself to be another version of Jacob's father from the future, the Reaper opted to take both he and Jane with him back to some quiet corner of future time, there to spend the remainder of their days in peace.
Today
Following these events, however, it was not long before the Dead Eye Kid, now alive and well, chose a different path. He felt little connection to his so-called father, but was very interested in his bevy of futuristic technology and time-travel capabilities. Entrusted with the secret, he began time-hopping to different points in history, experiencing all new manners of life and societies, times and cultures, with the sole purpose of having fun and seeking adventure.
This string of irresponsible temporal incursions soon gained the attention of the Menders of Ouroboros, who tracked down the Kid and insisted he find one time and place in which to restrict his travels. Since he himself was a man-out-of-time, he was given the opportunity to pick any era of human history, though he would be limited to keeping the technology of the day. Grudgingly, the Kid picked Primal Earth of the early 21st century, a time and place that suited his tastes for a number of reasons.
Jacob first roamed the Rogue Isles, resuming the life of an unrestrained outlaw and gunfighter, relying somewhat on the fame, and funds, of the dimensional counter-part of his father while simultaneously trying to step out of his shadow. After some time this proved to be a poor choice, and the Kid lamented the drab living conditions which served as a battlefield for so many warring gangs and factions. The shining city on a hill, Paragon, became a much more attractive place to live at this time.
First building his reputation as a rogue against Arachnos, he began preforming deeds that proved to Paragon City officials that he could be reformed. In accordance with programs designed to persuade villains into using their powers for good, the Dead Eye Kid was finally given a hero's official Security Level. While technically still on probation, the Kid lives now in Paragon City, doing his best to fight crime and gain fame and notoriety not as a villainous outlaw, but as a heroic dispenser of justice.
The Dead Eye Posse
While the Dead Eye Kid's skills as an accomplished gunman were more than adequate in the late 1800's, they fall short against some super powered enemies. Even augmenting his arsenal with high-tech gadgets is sometimes not enough to prevail against certain foes. To combat such odds Jacob has enlisted the help of other young men to be their leader in his war on crime. Drawing from former gang members and the like, the Kid's influence has helped these troubled souls to reform and use their talents for good instead of evil.
In order to help keep their identities a secret, as well as add an element of prestige and respect to his cohorts, he has bestowed upon them the trade names of famous lawmen of the Old West. They presently include a pair of gunslingers known as Wild Bill and Longhair Jim, a dangerous arsonist answering to Heck Thomas, and a cool, calculated enforcer named Texas John.
Physical Attributes
The Kid was a normal human being without any super powers. He formerly survived with his cache of futuristic devices, physical prowess, wit, charm, and good looks. However, he has since developed special abilities which appear to be the result of his frequent time traveling.
Powers and Abilities
The Dead Eye Kid is a superb marksman, preferring a pair of twin pistol revolvers. His quick reflexes, deft hands, and agility make him the consummate sharpshooter. After living so long in the modern era, though, the Kid finds himself blessed with an increasing power of time manipulation. This new power seems to be born from his own time displacement which has resulted in his body becoming an accumulative source of chronitons, a particle with temporal properties. The levels at which his body either produces or gathers these particles seems to be increasing, and strangely enough, responds to his growing control of previously untapped powers. It is unknown to what extent these powers may continue to form, or if this seemingly natural temporal radiation may become harmful to himself and others.
Paraphernalia
The Kid prefers to dress in a style reflecting the time and place he grew up in. However he is not opposed to updating his wardrobe as the setting and situation dictates.
During his disreputable outlaw days the Kid was known to wear a rust-colored cowboy hat with a mask consisting of a scarlet bandanna, a black vest, brown gloves, and tight jeans tucked into brown and black cowboy boots. As a hero he wears a much flashier ensemble made up of a white cowboy hat, a ruby-colored visor, a modified blue suit made of flexible fibers decorated with white stars, white gloves with protective pads, a white belt with gold buckle, and white boots. When relaxing he is most likely to be found in casual clothes like T-shirts and blue jeans.
Taken from his ventures into the future, the Kid has an impressive array of weapons and devices to use in battle. To slow his enemies down he has used web grenades, caltrops, tasers, and an assortment of reactive traps and explosives. Force field generators and a special healing module help keep him safe, while his personal cloaking device and smoke grenades allow him stealthy access to most places. He has several types of flying drone devices at his disposal, including one that gives him information about the area around, others that seek enemy targets with disorienting results, and one that mounts double-barrel machine gun. The Kid sometimes sports an anti-gravity device attached to his belt that lets him leap tall buildings in a single bound, though usually rides around with greater style on a red streamlined rocket board.
Limitations
Beyond the guns, the toys, and the powers, the Dead Eye Kid is just regular human being made of flesh and bone. As such he is susceptible to injuries, extreme temperatures, disease, and psionic assault by the mentally gifted.
Personal Associations
The Kid is an amiable fellow, who prefers to win people over with wit and charm rather than make an enemy of them. He considers himself to be especially popular with the ladies, and his track record seems to confirm this, but he is just as much a man's man.
All in the Family
While technically the Kid's true relatives have all been dead and buried, he is a member of a very odd family brought together through time and space. While somewhat estranged, they are bonds he can not deny.
Dead Eye Jake: The Primal Earth version of his father who died, Benjamin Grey first became an outlaw in the Old West before surviving well past his time as well. As a villain in the Rogue Isles, he amassed a certain amount of fame and notoriety, as well as riches, although he has since retired and moved elsewhere. While Jacob prefers not to be associated with him, he has asked the old man for money from time to time, which has been always been paid over.
Dead Eye Jane: The mother Jacob never had, this version of Daisy Lou McCormick survived where her family did not. She became a notorious gunslinger as well and lived a life of banditry and adventure in the Old West, mirroring the antics of Primal Earth's Dead Eye Jake. The Quantum Reaper plucked her from her world just like the Kid and used her in his plot to effect temporal change. Afterwards she went with him and Jacob to try to become a family, but this apparently did not last long. Her fate is unknown.
Quantum Reaper: A version of the Kid's father from the far future, or possibly a merging of many versions over an expanse of multiple realities, it was the Reaper who traveled back in time and brought him back to life. He subsequently used a mind-altering device to rob Jacob of his will, but returned him to normal when all was said and done. He took them all back to a secluded place in time to try to live their new lives, but this did not work out. The Reaper's time travel technology provided the Kid the means to escape and find his own way.
Group Membership
Since moving to Paragon City and staking his claim to be a hero, the Kid has been searching for the right team to better showcase his talents.
Enemies
So far the Dead Eye Kid is without any serious arch-rivals, but this has the potential to change as he lives the life of a crime-fighter rather than just a skirt-chasing gun-for-hire.
Trivia
- The Kid is often referred to as a cowboy. Although he has worked as one before he does not identify himself with the term.
- The Kid's theme songs would include "El Paso" by Marty Robins, which inspired his original back story, and "Its Hard to be Humble" by Mac Davis.
