Flawless Zero
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Flawless Zero | |
| Player: @X2008 | |
| Origin: |
Mutation |
| Archetype: |
Blaster |
| Threat Level: |
20 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: |
Zero Falke |
| Known Aliases: |
Flawless Zero, Lawless Zero, Silver Hawk. |
| Species: |
Homo Superior |
| Height: |
6'2" |
| Weight: |
183 lbs |
| Eye Color: |
Grey |
| Hair Color: |
Platinum |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: |
British |
| Occupation: |
MI6 Agent |
| Marital Status: |
Single |
| Known Relatives: |
Terry Falke, father, Bess Falke nee Hainwright, mother, Samuel Falke, older brother, Anthony Falke, older brother, Kathryn McPhee nee Falke, younger sister |
| Additional Data | |
| [ Source ] | |
"It is not a bad thing that children should occasionally, and politely, put parents in their place."
Contents |
History
Zero was born to parents Terry and Bess Falke on the 28th July 1987, in Harlow, England. His father, a researcher and a bitter alcoholic, would often lash out at the young boy telling him that his name had a significance, it was a reflection of what he was worth. This caused Zero to plant a seed of defiance and rebellion from an early age, which he fostered by spending time trying to be the best at whatever he took to, sports, school and a human being in general.
He developed a uncanny talent for sports, especially those which required great accuracy particularly when it came to throwing. However, his perfectionist attitude made him mature a lot earlier than most people his age and he would often spend time alone training his mind or body. Terry's abusive nature also led to him often abusing Zero's mother, at first verbally and later, physically.
During one particularly bad episode, Zero's father had his hands around his mother's neck and saw her lifted into the air, feet dangling a few feet above the ground. As if it were reaction, Zero grabbed the nearest object, a toothpick, and threw it at his father's eye, hoping to temporarily blind him. Misjudging his strength, the toothpick found it's target, but then proceeded to move deeper into Terry's skull, penetrating his brain, killing him instantly.
Feeling free of a burden she'd dealt with for years, Zero's mother went to his defense insisting that she was the one who killed her husband and convinced Zero to testify to this. She was acquitted of all charges on the basis of self defense. Later they discovered that Terry was actually working on a project to help the communication industry in England and, because of his contribution to the breakthrough, his remaining family were able to reap the financial benefits of this.
Zero was sent to Mark Hall, a sports college in Harlow, to continue his education and his perfectionist attitude remained with him even after his father's death. Now having access to experts in movement, Zero's physical capabilities began to grow rapidly however his anti-social tendencies didn't improve. At the age of 14 Zero's telepathy manifested and he began to hear voices in his head. The noise was so overwhelming he was sent home from school. The moments before his mother arrived were agonising, but in those minutes he was able to determine where the voices were coming from. He realised that the voices were coming from children walking past, glancing at him while he waited. Zero heard them thinking things about him, about his strange behaviour and a lot of them believed he was responsible for his father's death but his mother didn't want him taken away so she lied to protect him. His mother arrived and took him home. From that day for the next two weeks, Zero would live in his room and continue training his body in the hopes that it would relieve the stress of his inability to control his telepathy. It was also during this time that his hair changed colour from light brown to it's silver-like colour.
Concerned for her son, Zero's mother contacted a local child therapist to come and try to talk to him. To her surprise, he agreed. Unbeknownst to the both of them, this therapist was also a telepath of limited ability himself. He was skilled enough however to sense Zero's potential and in the short time they spent together was able to teach Zero some exercises to be able to block the voices out temporarily. Before they could continue their therapy any further, Zero's therapist's working visa expired and returned to their home country.
Insisting that he had his telepathy under control and not wanting to risk further alienation from his peers, Zero begged his mother not to tell anyone of his mutation and insisted that he return to school. Zero finished his time at school with relative ease, despite the occasional mental intrusion. However his schooling would not go entirely smoothly with Zero being confronted by a particularly bold bully, Rudolph Bradshaw, who accused him of what others were thinking. He proceeded to assault Zero physically and verbally. Zero, not wanting to draw attention to himself but wanting the boy to stop, did not retaliate physically instead choosing to retreat into his mind and lashed out mentally. Rudolph fell over immediately and began shaking uncontrollably. The gathered crowd, unaware of Zero's mutation, were not able to make sense of what happened. Later doctors would claim that he suffered some sort of unexplainable seizure. This was never linked to Zero, however it did cause further isolation and more rumours were created and began to circulate. Zero vowed that he would never use his ability like that again.
Zero graduated from high school in 1999 and decided that the military would be a good place for him to learn new physical skills and the routine structure of the place would be good for him.
The Military and MI6
Zero entered the British Army as an infantryman however he was determined to reach special forces quickly and so applied himself to his training diligently. Although regimented, military life saw Zero make his first friend, a Swede named Victor Sorensen, who was also highly determined to succeed. The two formed a quick friendship and their relationship became one not of rivalry or competition, but rather one of support and encouragement. As the two spent time together training, it became apparent that they had developed an attraction to each other, beyond that of mere friendship. Even though they both acknowledged their feelings, neither of them wanted to risk being discharged and so neither of them ever acted on their impulses.
Zero's uncanny physical abilities were quickly recognised and within two years was recommended for the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) Special Reconnaissance Regiment. This promotion would see Zero relocated away from Victor, however the two would remain in contact via emails. In his time with the UKSF, Zero showed a particular adeptness and interest in covert recon, special recon, direct action and close protection. By the end of the year, upon recommendation, Zero applied for a position in the SIS, otherwise known as MI6, and was accepted.
MI6 would be the first place that Zero would encounter some resistance to his uniqueness since his father. His physical prowess with ranged throwing weapons and close combat was quickly recognised, yet no strangers to 'homo superior', his inability to control his telepathy was also noticed. Something which he had managed to disguise in his other positions. MI6 also noted his anti-social tendencies. After completing his first year of operations with them, it was recommended that Agent Falke be decommissioned and handed over to the custody of Mr. Gabriel Winter, the leader of the New Age Mutants, until such time as 'he has gained sufficient control over his mutation and is able to show normal social tendencies and behaviours while still able to achieve a set goal or directive.' Zero has since transferred to Paragon City and is now working with organisation known as the New Age Mutants.
New Age Mutants
Zero found himself a little out of place at first amongst the group more commonly known as NAM. As he was a little older than most of the new recruits, he felt that he couldn't really connect with his team members. His previous traumatic experiences also did not help him to bond or make friends. Keeping to himself a lot he spent a lot of time with Gabe Winter who would teach Zero about his abilities and how to control them rather than be controlled by them.
At one time, he was the target of a very specific attack from an unnamed villain. In this attack, he was 'negatized' and returned to his headquarters with one prime directive, to kill Gabe Winter. He came close to success in his mission, but due to the intervention of another teammate, he was frozen in place. Gabe also stabbed Zero in the heart, in an effort to drive the 'negatizing' effects from him. Thankfully, it worked. After he recovered from his injuries, thanks to the speedy work of Dr. Schwarz, Zero felt an overwhelming amount of guilt for his actions. He approached Gabe and told him that he would voluntarily leave the group. Gabe had different plans in mind, instead appointing Zero as his personal bodyguard.
In time, he would also form a close friendship with another NAM teammate, Chris Cleveland a.k.a Cyclone Shield. This friendship quickly grew to something more, yet it became increasingly evident to Zero that Chris was not as comfortable with his sexuality in public as Zero was. Their intimate relationship remained under the radar with everybody else assuming they were close friends. As the pair gew to a point of closeness, Zero was suddenly called home to England, as his mother had taken ill. Zero returned home where he stayed with his mother for two weeks. He returned back to NAM shortly after. However, his return was short lived...
Child Prodigies
As he was standing in Prometheus Park talking to Chris on the phone, Zero was attacked by the agents from an organisation that Zero was unfamiliar with. One of which was a powerful mutant who could force her will onto others with nothing more than a whisper. Zero was overwhelmed and he was captured by the organisation. Zero was placed into a torture room and brainwashed until his mind and will were no longer his own and he became a tool of the organisation. They amplified Zero's telepathic abilities and used them to track down children whose mutations were newly manifesting. Zero remained captive by the organisation for four months.
At one point, a young boy the organisation had taken in, had manifested a secondary power which they were not expecting. The boy caused severe structural damage to the organisation. This caused power to the machine that was holding Zero captive to die off and Zero found himself free. His muscles nearly atrophied, Zero dragged himself out of the organisation back to Paragon City. After he recovered he contacted Chris and the two rekindled their relationship, only to have Zero disappear on Chris again.
A Favour Called
Zero's time with MI6 had finally returned to haunt him when they called him in to return a favour that he owed them. The favour of saving his mother's life from what would have been certain death. Zero knew he had no choice but to go immediately. Feeling torn apart that he could not contact Chris he left immediately. When he returned to England's MI6 London branch he was surprised to find several members of Paragon's Vanguard there The Lady Grey and Gaussian among them. His former MI6 commander and The Lady Grey briefed Zero that he was to become a part of the Sword branch of Vanguard and play a role in a new top secret mission: prepare for an attack from Cole's Praetorian forces. He was under no circumstances to contact anyone or reveal any details of this mission and to remain completely off the radar. Knowing the cost of defying those orders, Zero obeyed.
Gaussian and his MI6 commander both agreed that the combination of Zero's time in NAM and kidnapping by the organisation deemed his mission to master his telepathy a failure. Gaussian arranged for Zero to undergo intense training with a trusted Vanguard agent whose specialty was in telepathy and telekinesis. Zero's training consisted entirely of him only learning how to focus his telepathic potential into his telekinetic ability and to focus this telekinesis inwards to increase his strength. Zero's strength began to increase far beyond that of any normal human, at some points, to the same extent as those gifted with super strength.
His training complete, his mission began and a defense team was set up. Months passed with no movement from Cole. When Cole finally made his move, invading with the Seeds of Hamidon, Zero's team was unprepared and they were overwhelmed. The mission was a failure. Having felt that he had earned his rest, MI6 granted him a discharge once more. Zero still chooses to remain a part of the Vanguard as he feels responsible for the failure of the mission.
However, this has freed up some time for him. And now, he once more attempts to find the one thing that he cared about above all else...Chris.
((to be continued...))
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Telepathy (formerly): Since his mutation first manifested, Zero has displayed the telepathic standards of receiving thoughts and projection of offensive blasts of psionic energy causing mental pain or unconsciousness.
Advanced Telekinetic Combatant: As a telekinetic, he uses his powers to augment his strength and speed, which makes his fighting skills so strong that he is able to match and even outmatch other superhumanly strong opponents. This often appears as a white glow around his hands.
Abilities
Olympic Physical Conditioning: Zero is an Olympic-level athlete and weightlifter. He is in overall exceptional physical condition, with the agility, reflexes, stamina, and speed of a professional or Olympic athlete. He can increase his strength by bolstering it with his telekinetic ability.
Skilled Acrobat: He is a skilled acrobat capable of performing many difficult feats and matching the feats of the finest human acrobats.
Expert Marksman: Zero's innate ability to throw any projectile with great unerring accuracy and deadliness borders on the uncanny. His uncanny ability to use virtually any common object as a lethal projectile actually makes him more dangerous than many heroes who do have superhuman powers. Zero can accomplish many feats with thrown projectiles. He is also a dangerous sharpshooter.
Expert Assassin: He knows every pressure point and vulnerable spot on the human body and is able to turn virtually any object into a deadly weapon capable of incapacitating or killing an enemy. Zero is a deadly assassin who was occasionally deployed by MI6 for covert assassinations.
Master Martial Artist: Aside from his ability to throw projectiles with lethal accuracy, Zero is also a master of many martial arts disciplines and is extremely talented in the use of edged weapons and conventional firearms.
Weapons Proficiency: As a result of his naturally perfect athletic gift for hand-eye coordination, Zero can quickly learn how to wield most weapons even if he's never seen them before. Aside from throwing projectiles, he is also skilled with knives, swords, and other weapons.
Equipment
- standard issue Impervium Vanguard suit
- two Match Compensator model semi-automatic handguns
- ninja darts hidden in various places on his person
- compound bow
Friends
Testimonials
If your character has interacted with Zero please feel free to leave a comment about him below:
"I'm glad I have someone like Zero to call a friend, he's sweet, nice, and caring. And he has awesome hair. For serious." - Mars
