Ghost Train
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Ghost Train | |
| Player: @Ghosttrain | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Brute |
| Security Level: | -/- |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Hakeem Marshall |
| Known Aliases: | None |
| Species: | Meta Human |
| Age: | [Though body has stopped aging] 67 |
| Height: | 6'4" |
| Weight: | 243 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Haitian American and Arabian American |
| Occupation: | Former Leader of Zeta Team, Former member of the Hero Corps, Former member of Vangaurd, Hero Trainer, Full time Hero [a former cop] |
| Place of Birth: | Shine, Florida |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City |
| Marital Status: | widowed |
| Known Relatives: | Noell Marshall (Daughter, Deceased)
Has 3 grandsons |
| Known Powers | |
| Mastery over Kinetic and Potential Energy, as well as acceleration, his body no longer ages as a standard human would. Able to tell if people are lying by the way their energy changes. | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Well versed in all forms of unarmed combat. Highly intelligent. Well versed in multiple languages. Trained in criminal justice. | |
| Equipment | |
| Standard issue communicator. | |
 | |
Hakeem Marshall was simply an on the beat cop born of immigrant parents trying to live the American Dream. After becoming the Ghost Train, he went on to become the pinnacle of Super Heroic Trainers all while maintaining a personal standard of service to his community, his country, and his world.
Contents |
Foreward
Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. Some cities/locations in this work are fictional and any similarities between characters shown here and real people are purely coincidental.
Early life and Beginnings as Ghost Train
Hakeem Marshall (Born in Shine Florida, September 2nd 1945) was a police officer in Volta Mar Florida in the mid 1960's. Shortly into his police Career he finds himself chasing after a cereal killer who targets well-off minorities as a way to "Put lower species back in their place." Calling himself "White" in all of his taunting letters and recording to the press. Even going as far as to bleach his skin and hair white. Wearing pure white clothing as if it were some kind of uniform. Hakeem and other officers had been falling short in catching white for several months, allowing the death's of 12 people. Before any effort could be made to continue pursuit, Hakeem's department was stripped of the jurisdiction to pursue White any further. Refusing to accept this, Hakeem went against his orders and pursued White independently, chasing the White down onto an experimental new design of train within a Kirby Corporations Engineering Facility.
White, being cornered, revealed just how willing to die he was for his cause. He detonated a vest of homemade explosives in the engine room of this vehicle(nicknamed the "Phantasm") hoping to take out Hakeem and the entire facility with him. While he didn't succeed in the initial blast, he did succeed in damaging the experimental engine. Hakeem, who was caught in the initial blast, was painfully lodged in the base of the engine. Unable to escape it going critical. The engine exploded, bathing the entire room in a dancing red light. Hakeem was the only one caught in the blast.
...
He was found 3 hours later unconcious amongst the remains of the blast. His clothing had been burned off of his body, but he he himself only showed signs of minor burns. 1 hour later, Hakeem awoke in a hospital bed. 2 hours after that, he was up and walking again. The Doctors claimed it a miracle. And local media claimed him a Hero. In all actuality, had he not had the media on his side, the Chief would of fired Hakeem as soon as he was up and walking. Hakeem kept his badge that day, blissfully unaware of the effects suffered from the incident.
2 months later, Hakeem develops sudden motion sickness while sitting in his chair. He is unable to quell his urge to throw up and is sent home. 3 days after, Hakeem destroys his kitchen table with a mere touch. He tells no one. 1 day after, he moves at superhuman speed for the first time. He tells no one. 3 days later, he finds his body ignited with an odd energy in the night. 1 day after, he finds himself thwarting a Bank Robbery with these strange powers.
...
2 weeks later, he dawns a costume and assumes the name "The Ghost Train" on July 4th 1967. His appearance as such causes an uproar in the media and the science community.
Loss of his Wife, and Revealing his Identity
As the years went by, and the criminals came harder, Ghost Train went from feared myth to revered vigilante and savior of Volta Mar. Much to the displeasure of Hakeem's cop companions. In the 1970's The Ghost Train cast a mysterious hand to aid all of the major cases of the city. In his personal life, Hakeem was finding himself unaffected by the hands of time. Causing him to question his mortality. At the peak of depression, and angel cast her gaze upon him. He met and fell in love with Alisia Harvard. A young social worker and activist for the betterment of minority women's rights in America. Hakeem was enchanted with her passion for life. She allowed him to feel "human" when they were together. They were wed on August 6th, 1973.
The early years of their marriage were rocky, Alisia often accused Hakeem of infidelity because of the extended amount of time he spent out of the house with little explanation besides "Work". When she threatened to leave him unless told the truth, Hakeem felt forced to reveal to her his true identity as The Ghost Train. Hakeem feared she would leave him out of fear, but Alisia stood by him, even became his loudest supporter in the city of Volta Mar as Ghost Train became a political topic all over the state of Florida. Multiple parties each had their own opinions on what should be done with Ghost Train. The main three opinions where to allow Ghost Train to continue to act on his own, to force Ghost Train to work within the law enforcement, or to outlaw Ghost Train and his activities all the together. Around the same time, Super powered vigilantes and villains were appearing rapidly all over the North America. Soon, in Europe too, and eventually all over Asia and Africa.
The current Governor of Florida Nalland Morrison at the time was facing re-election in 1978, and was getting pressured by both National government and the people of Florida to make an official decision on The Ghost Train. Morrison sided with the strongest of the 3 parties and passed a bill that required Ghost Train become officially registered within the legal system. Hakeem wearily agreed to these terms, but wished to keep his civilian identity private. Publicly asking only to be allowed to have a "normal life". He was granted this one request. He revealed his identity to his officials and was instantly fired by the chief of his police station. This obviously being done so out of great spite towards him for hiding behind the mask of Ghost Train all these years. Hakeem (with the health of a generous government grant) opened up an auto repair shop and live a life as a Mechanic. The same Government funding allowed his wife Alisia to be a stay at home wife. And soon a stay at home mother.
Noel Harvard Marshall was born Christmas eve, 1979. She came out a normal healthy child showing no signs of The Ghost Train's powers. Hakeem was more then relieved. Around this time, amount of superhuman activity(soon to be known as Meta-Human by the scientific community) started to swell in Florida, bring a strong new crop of super powered Criminals to the state. Causing The Ghost Train to be seen more, and daddy to be seen less. Around 1981, Morrison passed a bill to get funding for S.W.A.T. Teams to be armed to be able to handle Super Powered Criminals in The Ghost Train's absence. Too many times has simultaneous attacks on the city happened. As powerful as Ghost Train had become in the last 15 years(especially now that he had the time to start to explore and gain some kind of understanding of his powers) he was only one man against an army. With the rising Meta-Human crime rates across not just Florida but the entire country Hakeem was approached by a man named General Allen Hammil on behalf of the American Government.
Hakeem was offered the chance to leave his life in Volta Mar behind and join the Military to take on the Meta-Human crime wave head on. To get "serious" about saving the day, as Hammil put it. Hakeem initially refused. While wanting to do what he could to save people, he wanted his daughter to be able to grow up in as normal a setting as possible. Not hunkered down in a military base while Daddy is out playing Hero. She was just learning to talk then. Hakeem already missed her first words, he didn't want to miss anything else. Hammil made sure to let him know that it was a very open offer and made his leave.
In the next few weeks, Hakeem continued to wage his war on crime as the Ghost Train. He at times became so busy that he was forced to completely shut down his shop for days on end. Leaving his wife and daughter alone also for days on end. He was being called from city to city to handle what the S.W.A.T. units were not yet properly equipped to handle. Ghost used to be able to enjoy the single words of thanks he would get from the civilians he had saved, but he no longer had time to even hear that much. He would always be getting a new call in his radio of another Meta-Human attack in another City. While finishing off what he hoped to be his last of his worries for weeks to come, his worst nightmares came true. There was an attack on Volta Mar. In the same area of his home. For the first time ever, half way through a battle, The Ghost Train disengaged a criminal and fled. He moved faster then he ever thought possible, arriving back to his City to only see a site of horror. His home had been hit. Alisia lay dead under what used to be the door, blown completely off of the hinges. Hakeem was so distraught he almost didn't hear the cries of his child in what remained of her room. He rushed to her cries to find his child in her bed, being approached by a heavily armored thug locally known as Carpet Bomb. It was 2:46:00 PM. At 2:46:10, Carpet Bomb turned to see Ghost Train standing in the doorway. At 2:46:11, Ghost Train bore his fingers into his skull. At 2:46:20, The Ghost train stood of the remains of a man who's head had been imploded. At 2:47 PM, Hakeem, not Ghost Train, held his child in his arms. Trying weakly to clean the blood from her cheeks and sooth her own tears.
...
2 days later, the Media slammed Ghost Train for his sudden depart from battle. 32 people were killed and 56 were injured before the the Alphasapien was finally taken down by local law enforcement. On the 3rd day, it was a Wednesday, October 21st, 1981, Hakeem revealed to his cousin Joel Tange his identity of Ghost Train. He then turned over custody of Noel to Joel. Asking him to never tell Noel the truth, and raise her as his own. Joel agreed but asked what would become of Hakeem. Hakeem could simply tell him one thing, "Hakeem Marshall must die."
2 days later, a press conference was held, requested publicly by The Ghost Train. It was broadcast live across the country. In front of his entire country, the Ghost Train removed his helmet and revealed his face to the public. He made a short statement.
'What happened October 19th was not simply the fault of those who perpetrated these acts, but my fault. The fault of my weakness... My selfishness to want to have a civilian life...'
His face twisted with emotions, his eyes burning with the light of his power, he places his helmet back on his head. Sealing away his face. And sealing away his past life.
'...I will never be weak again...'
In the following days, The Ghost Train was admitted as a soldier in the US Armed Forces. Drafted into it's Hero Corps. Alisia Marshall's funeral was on Sunday, October 28th, 1981. Hakeem Marshall was not present.
The Rikti Invasion
Ghost Train spent many years in Hero Corps fighting crime wherever it approached. It was at this time he was Stationed in Paragon City Being one of the earliest known Meta-Humans in existence, as well as one of the first recognized Super-Heroes left Ghost Train to take the responsibility of a Leadership role within the Corps. When he wasn't fighting first hand, Ghost Train himself became a trainer of young gifted individuals. Helping Meta-Human Youth hone their skill and re-purpose it for good or at the very least something productive. He had classes on basic control as well as advanced combat all the while he struggled with the true understanding of his own powers in the background. After accidentally vaporizing a Hellion's arm in an armed Robbery attempt, Ghost Train requested time off to focus on his powers. For a while now, he had outright avoided making direct contact in physical exchanges with lower-grade Villains for free of outright destroying them with his Kinetic Energy, and he had come to the conclusion that the process of time had no longer halted in his body but instead: his bodily processes have accelerated so much that he is constantly restoring his old cells to maintain his peak physical age. His genetic structure seemed to alter to adapt to this over the years.
Upon suggestion from a fellow hero, Ghost Train traveled to the Ouroboros to be away from all conflict. Ghost Train... or really Hakeem had been alive for over 50 years now and long life gives a man time to think about things. His powers even seemed the accelerate the rate of his thought processes not to the point of any psychic ability but simple enough to comprehend and learn faster and learn faster he did. In the month he spent in the Ouroboros, Ghost Trained learned every detail he could about the Science surrounding his ability. The science of the world finally had caught up with the powers he had and Ghost Train finally had the intimate understanding of his ability he so desperately needed. He returned to action and in a new costume and with a new vigor he hadn't had in years.
Ghost Train continued his work as a Trainer of heroes and a leader of Hero Teams which came in handy during the Rikti attack in 2002. Ghost Train spent much of his time fighting alongside his longtime friend Hero 1. Ghost Train, who had actually known the original Hero One in his long career developed an even deeper friendship with him in these darker days. Ghost Train and Hero 1 where among many heroes to join the Government established Vangaurd. Ghost Train, leading the Zeta Team, was in charge of general defense as well as maintaining the patchwork borders Established in Paragon City. He had to watch a lot of the young heroes he trained fight valiantly and eventually die to the Rikti onslaught. He even had to eventually watch more heroes leave only to never return in the from the Rikti Homeworld.
...
When Ghost Train removed his cape, he removed himself from the Hero Corps as well as the Vangaurd. He had long since been having disagreements with the Hero Corps so it was to be expected. Ghost Train still however retains a working relationship with the Vangaurd, answering the call whenever his Government truly needs him.
Recent Years
Since the Invasion, Ghost Train has remained largely off of the Radar. Not really able to return to a civilian life of any sort since revealing his identity, he instead spent several years combing the world, helping out any trouble as it arises. Ghost Train got the unfortunate call back home by Lady Grey however when the Rikti reappeared. While he felt overwhelming joy to find that Glacia and Infernia had survived their mission he was mortified to learn of what happened to the rest. With heavy heart he fought the twisted remains of his fallen comrades.
After this Ghost Train returned to the Ouroboros to contemplate his own life as well as the world he wished to protect. He spent several years there until eventually returning to action fulltime in 2012. Ghost Train wasn't getting any older and he certainly wasn't getting any younger. He still hasn't found the answers to the questions he still can't even understand yet but fighting to protect those that could not protect themselves had a funny way of easing him. The darkness in the world didn't seem that bad to what he saw inside his head. In more recent years, Ghost Train has become a more vocal opposition to the Hero Corps. Believing the organization to have completely lost its way since it's inception and while he still supports the Vangaurd he has refused to return to it full-time. Simply feeling more comfortable working alone for the most part. Some of the other heroes who have known Ghost Train over the years are confused for the most part about this seeing as he has spent so much of his career training and leading others.
