Grav-Man
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| "We are the masters of our own density...oh wait, it's destiny...oh nevermind." | |
| Grav-Man | |
| Player: @DimSimian | |
| Origin: | Technology |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Controller |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Michael Marquez |
| Known Aliases: | None known |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | Impossible to determine due to frequent time travel |
| Height: | 6' |
| Weight: | 180lbs |
| Eye Color: | Pale blue |
| Hair Color: | None |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | United Statesian |
| Occupation: | Time/Space Tunneler & Professional Crimefighter (formerlly Arwon Corporation Researcher) |
| Place of Birth: | King's Row |
| Base of Operations: | King's Row |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Confidential |
| Known Powers | |
| Direct control over fabric of Space/Time Continuum | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Confidential | |
| Equipment | |
| ' | |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
Personality
The prolonged use of the technology that allows Grav-Man to bend Space and Time alters his psyche as well as his body, he has become somewhat...interesting to work with. Fellow heroes have noted Grav-Man to spout something into his communicator that hardly resembles any known language. Also scarred by his physical appearance Grav-Man cannot live the life of an alter-ego like many of the heroes that frequent Paragon City. Until such time that a suitable holographic appearance generator can be adapted for his unique physiology, his mental state will probably remain somewhat unstable. His time travelling has also led him to change his outlook on things, often making very, very blunt statements about certain things.
Origins
A Chance For Something Better
It was a great opportunity for Michael Marquez to be somebody. An opening in a prestigious organization like the Arwon Corporation was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, a chance to be on the cutting edge of bio-technology and cybernetics research. The starting salary alone was incentive enough for Michael to apply himself to the task!
The Plot Thickens
The problems began with the human test subjects. Michael had no problems with experiments under the microscope, using DNA, blood samples and electrolyte compounds. However, it wasn't the hardened-criminals that worried Michael. Many of those had been rehabilitated and put to work in the filed, looking for others that displayed 'gifts'. What upset Michael was the heartless exploitation of the unemployed, homeless and even children. Research was guarded tightly, with absolutely no outside access to any sensitive information. The inner halls of the laboratories and underground storehouses were patrolled by genetically-enhanced thugs or cybernetic drones. The chances of escaping with proof of the inhumane atrocities conducted by the researches to the authorities where calculated to be less than a percent of success. Knowing full well any number of poorly-shielded telepaths on the premises could hear everything inside Michaels' head, he almost lost hope.
The GRAV Project
"Hope seemed lost, I saw myself becoming an anonymous white-coat, without heart or conscience. That was when I was given 'The GRAV Project'." Michael explained once in a interview.
The Gravity Remapping Alteration Vortex was what it was supposed to be short for. A device which was intended to be used to instantly transfer matter through space and time, whether it be a cargo container with food and medical supplies to a war-torn country or something as simple as redirecting lost mail to the proper recipients at a time appropriate for its use.
However, the Arwon Corporation had quickly 'acquired' this device and all research associated with it in its usual brutish way, adapting it to its more...sinister ideas. To be able to transport a nuclear warhead to any time or place or alter the course of history was power that the Arwon Corporation believed it had to have, which is why Michael felt he had to act.
The power that the GRAV-module contains is magnified by the user's experience with the device, as it slowly augments the user's physical and mental characteristics to gain better control.
Control of what?
The fabric of the space/time continuum is something many scientists dream of manipulating with time-travel, teleportation and the like. The device can weave, bend or break this fabric, manipulating gravitational forces that can be used to create wormholes to far distant places and times.
The known side-effects are glaringly-obvious, the process of binding the device to Michael's own skeletal structure caused enough damage to kill him. There are also the physical changes to Michael's body that the device has made in order for it to operate more effectively. His hands have become somewhat deformed, monstrous even and there is little that can be done to change them, for fear it will affect the control over the device. Michael's face has been changed quite dramatically to enhance his senses. His sight, smell and hearing far surpass the normal man, but they form what many would call an eyesore.
Escape and Return
Michael's original plan was to simply go into hiding after using the device to 'break out' from the Arwon Corporation. Events unfolded, however, that changed this decision drastically.
After the heat had died down from his escape, Michael came into contact with a fellow 'escapee', a young man who he had experimented on while working for the Arwon Corporation. This man's designation was Lokust-001, one of the first regeneratives the company had worked on. Thought killed in an experiment, Lokust was thrown out with the garbage in a barge set for sinking at sea. Unbeknown to the Arwon Corporation, the test was a complete success, their lack of patience and a desire for fast results was a failure on their part.
It was his intention to reclaim some of the life he had before the experiments, but he had realized that the atrocities of the Arwon Corporation could no longer go unnoticed. By himself, he went into the Paragon Research Station of Arwon and tore it to pieces while Michael sat in a truck parked several blocks away and waited. He felt like a coward.
When the Lokust returned, he carried with him a great number of subjects, some Michael had worked on personally, others he had only heard whispers of. They were all herded into the rear of the truck and they made their escape.
Following the attack on the Research Station, Lokust-001 registered as a full-time superhero under the name The Lokust Solus, for he felt that the need to fight the now crumbling Arwon Corporation was greater than ever.
It was only then that Michael decided that he too would put his 'gift' to similar use. Therefore, Michael used its project name as part of his own new identity. He became Grav-Man.
Powers and Abilities
Gravity Manipulation - The device which Grav-Man uses enables him to create gravity wells or nullify gravity's effects at will.
Wormhole Tunneling - An advanced use of the GRAV-module, allows Grav-Man to instantaneously teleport to any given time or place via a wormhole. This ability can also be used to apprehend criminals, transport civilians in distress and has numerous other uses Grav-Man has yet to discover.
Temporary Boosts - With continued experimentation, Grav-Man has mastered a number of different functions of the GRAV-module to temporarily enhance a comrade's speed, power and or health during battle. This has gone over well within the teams he has worked with in cleaning up the streets of Paragon City.
Increased Resilience - For the optimal functioning of the GRAV-module, it alters the cell structure of the user to allow total control. This means that Grav-Man's skeletal structure, muscle-fibre and even skin have become hardened to provide much needed protection when traveling through wormholes and fighting crime.
Weaknesses
The effects of the cellular restructure from the GRAV-module have left Grav-Man's appearance 'changed'. Unable to lead a civilian life for fear of being pegged as a villain. Grav-Man is forced to live life as a hero and a hero only. This is very taxing to his psyche. Also, if the GRAV-module were ever removed, the pain alone would be guaranteed to kill him.
File Photos
A number of heroes accompany Grav-Man on a mission into an alternate dimension.
This article about a character is a stub -- a small, but growing, work in progress. If you're the creator of this character, why not consider expanding it?
