Swiss Army Sweetie
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Swiss Army Sweetie | |
| Origin: |
Natural |
| Archetype: |
Scrapper |
| Threat Level: |
20 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: |
Jamie Rodgers |
| Known Aliases: |
"SaS" for short |
| Species: |
Mutant |
| Height: |
4'8" |
| Weight: |
90 lbs |
| Eye Color: |
Hazle |
| Hair Color: |
Red/Orange |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: |
Born in the U.S. |
| Occupation: |
8th grader at Paragon City Middle School |
| Base of Operations: |
King's Row |
| Marital Status: |
Single |
| Known Relatives: |
Father (unknown mutant) Mother (unknown) No known relatives at this time. |
| Additional Data | |
| Known Powers: |
Dual Blades/Willpower |
| Known Abilities: |
See article |
| Known Equipment: |
See article |
| [ Source ] | |
"Swiss Army Sweetie" originally started out as "The Switchblade Kid". For the sake of fitting the Golden/Silver Age theme, the character's name was changed. As an avid role player, I truly enjoy the challenge of effectively portraying each character as a unique individual. This character has been an enjoyable challenge because she's allowed be to release my inner child.
Contents |
Character Information
In the Beginning - The Switchblade Kid
Jamie's mother was human, her father a mutant. To this day, the identity of her father remains unknown. He isn't even listed on her birth certificate. The mother's name remains classified, as Social Services was unable to track her down for questioning. Jamie was abandoned on the steps of City Hall at the age of three. Her mother was a single parent and was having a difficult time supporting both herself and young Jamie. In addition, she was afraid of her own child. Jamie's powers had not developed yet, but she had physical traits that led her mother to believe she had inherited the mutant gene from her father. She hadn't known the father of her child was a mutant until after she'd given birth.
Young Jamie spent the next 10 years as a ward of the State, bouncing from one foster home to the next. Her constant placement with new families was not due to ill-behavior. She simply wasn't wanted in the homes she'd been placed in. Jamie tried her very best to be accepted by each family, but knowing the child they were fostering was a mutant, uncertain of what her powers were, made these families extremely uncomfortable.
Quite the tomboy, Jamie has remained a fairly well behaved child with a rather sunny disposition. She does have a bit of a smart mouth due to the time she spent living on the streets. However she refrains from using foul language, and is always respectful toward her elders. It was being in the wrong places at the wrong times that led to Jamie finding herself in trouble with teachers and foster parents quite often. She is very bright and has no juvenile record, but has plenty of detentions and school suspensions under her belt. She had never been expelled from school.
About a year ago, Jamie ran away from her last foster family. Though all families are screened before being permitted to take on wards of the state, some are very skilled at putting on a good act. The family in question was not very good at providing a stable environment, as they were more concerned about their monthly checks than the children themselves. In addition to Jamie, the family fostered six other children, a few of which were initiating members of the Hellions. Jamie witnessed a few of the other teenagers stealing from the foster home. Again, she found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and wound up looking like the guilty party. When the foster father announced he was calling the authorities and Jamie would be charged for the thefts, she grew frightened and ran away. She made the streets of King's Row her home for the next year.
Jamie had to learn to defend herself very quickly in order to survive. She is rather small for her 14 years, and made the perfect target for would-be bullies. A relatively nice homeless man gave her twin switch blades in exchange for a sack of cheeseburgers she found in a dumpster. The old man had been an Army Vet and showed her how to use them effectively without causing serious injury. After all, she was just a child. He didn't want her to learn to kill at such a young age, merely wished for her to be able to defend herself.
After parting ways with the old man, the once frightened, timid Jamie became a street-wise kid capable of holding her own. She never stole from others, merely survived off what she was able to find on the streets. She had not been back to school since running away, for fear of being punished for the thefts she did not commit. Eventually she worked out a deal with a few "nerdy" kids and agreed to walk them home from school if they let her "borrow" their school books. Until recently, she had relied on her witts and the blades to get by. But now that her mutant abilities have begun to develop, its only a matter of time before she discovers her full potential.
It was while dumpster diving for food that she was discovered by a group of Hellions gathering to plan an armed robbery. Never one to pass up an opportunity to be a thorn in the sides of any gang members, Jamie proceeded to do just that. Of course, all the commotion drew the attention of a passing patrolman. That's when Jamie found herself caught and once more in the hands of social services.......
Social Services Records
Paragon City Social Services Records
Subject: Jamie Rodgers (minor child)
Case Notes:
Minor child was first entered into the Paragon City Social Services System at the age of 3. She was found abandoned on the steps of City Hall in the spring of 1997. Through blood tests and finger printing, Social Services was able to track down birth records, but was unable to locate the mother for further questioning.
Records indicate the child was placed with sixteen foster families spanning between the years of 1997 through 2007. Placement with the final family was terminated upon the disappearance of the subject in 2007. Police reports indicate the child ran away after being implicated in the theft of private property. Subject was located again in the spring of 2008 after being apprehended by Paragon Police Officials in King’s Row.
Social Services determined placement with foster care ineffective for this child and entered her into the “Fostering Young Heroes” program. The purpose of this program is to foster super-powered children with registered Super Groups through out Paragon City. It is the goal of this project to assist in providing these children with an appropriate living environment where their gifts may be further developed. This program can aid in preventing these children from being influenced to use their powers in a manner detrimental to society. Super Groups that participate in this program receive State funding for each child to allow for the purchase of necessary items to further the ward’s hero training.
Psychological Profile:
Extensive psychiatric testing concludes that the subject is in good mental health. She does not suffer from abandonment issues. This somewhat surprises our psychiatric department, considering the mother’s abandonment of the child at an early age. The subject does appear to display an inability to become emotionally attached to others. It is the belief of this department that this personality trait is a form of self-preservation on an emotional level. The subject does not suffer from paranoid delusions or delusions of grandeur but remains extremely wary of most people. She places little trust in others until she knows them on a personal level. Subject appears to respond in a positive manner to authority figures, and gets along well with her peers. She does however continue to staunchly proclaim that, “all boys have cooties”. However, this does not appear to negatively affect her ability to work as a team with members of the opposite gender.
Despite the subject’s lack of a stable upbringing, she has remained a bright, creative, positive individual. She shows an eagerness for furthering her education and enjoys school immensely. She does not dwell on the negative, rather embraces optimism with child-like enthusiasm. Subject displays a great deal of courage, integrity, and honor. She appears to know the difference between right and wrong and is not shy about voicing her opinion on such matters.
There is a moderate amount of concern over the Subject’s lack of fear pertaining to her physical well-being. She has a history of recklessness, with a medical history of broken bones and other injuries that have little to do with childhood accidents. More on this can be read in her medical records sent from King’s Row Memorial Hospital. It is the belief of this department that, with sufficient training, her lack of fear can be molded into a powerful tool in her already growing arsenal of super-powered abilities.
Subject does appear to have a great deal of admiration and respect for specific individuals, in particular, a heroine by the name of Colossal Girl. Subject has mentioned this individual on several occasions during psychiatric visits. Among the subjects few personal effects is a well-preserved autograph from Colossal Girl, and an un-sent letter to “Santa Clause” asking for a Colossal Girl action figure. Subject’s fixation with this individual has not been deemed abnormal. It is the determination of this authority that a healthy admiration for an upstanding representative of the heroic society has had a good influence on the child, and has been a factor in her lack of a criminal record. It was no mere coincidence that the Gods of the Golden Age were contacted for the “Fostering Young Heroes” program. It was the belief of the Social Services Department that the subject would have an even greater chance of responding well to the program if she were placed in a Super Group with an individual that had already influenced her in a positive manner.
This concludes the psychiatric evaluation for this individual for the time being. Regular visits from Social Services will take place to monitor the progress of the subject.
Additional Case Notes:
After running away from her last foster family, the subject lived on the streets of King’s Row for approximately one year. The subject’s survival pleases yet surprises officials, considering her age and small stature. The subject indicates that she briefly kept company with an elderly, homeless Army Veteran. They met by chance near a dumpster while both were searching for food. The man was far too old and crippled to be climbing into dumpsters therefore they made an arrangement. He would teach her to defend herself and in exchange, she would share portions of any food she managed to scrounge up. This was how she became known as “The Switchblade Kid” while living on the streets. The subject denies ever causing serious injury to others when forced to defend herself. She also indicates that she did not part ways with the elderly man by choice, that rather she believed he had died when he failed to appear at their regular meeting place for several days. From there she went her own way, using instinct and the survival skills she’d been taught.
At first the subject did not respond well to being in the hands of Social Services after her apprehension by the PPD. She even managed to run away from our Office on the same day she was brought back. However, she returned of her own free will several days later. Upon her return she expressed a sincere interest in the “Fostering Young Heroes” program. It is the belief of this department that her decision may have been greatly influenced by a chance meeting with Colossal Girl and several others from the Gods of the Golden Age.
Medical History:
D.O.B. August 3, 1994
Place of Birth: King’s Row Memorial Hospital
Blood Type: O negative
Birth Defects: DNA testing proves subject carries the mutant genome.
Significant Markings: quarter sized, strawberry colored birthmark on left shoulder blade.
Super-Power Status:
Until recently, the subject had not displayed any signs of possessing super powers. Minor physical mutations were evident with her first medical examination at the age of three. It is the opinion of Medical Professionals that her powers began to manifest with the onset of puberty. Due to the mutant genome, she displays enhanced reflexes (swiftness), innate defensive agility (combat jumping), and minimal regenerative abilities (health). There appears to be abnormal musculature in her legs, enabling her to leap great heights and distances (super jump). She also seems to have an abnormally high tolerance to pain (willpower), which may contribute to the lack of fear discussed in her psychiatric evaluation.
Scars: Subject possesses several scars not attributed to what can be considered “normal” childhood accidents. Scarring indicates a lack of proper medical attention such as necessary stitches or sutures to severe cuts or contusions.
Broken Bones: X-rays indicate the subject has suffered a broken left wrist on three separate occasions. Fortunately, it appears to have healed properly, however, there is some weakness in the grip of her left hand, indicating nerve and tendon damage. Physical therapy after healing could have restored full use of her left hand, however, none was provided. Therefore, she has approximately 90% usage of her left hand. This could improve over time as she continues to grow in size and strength. Subject also appears to have suffered from a fractured collarbone, possibly due to an accident while adjusting to the abnormal musculature in her legs.
Frequent mandatory medical exams will be arranged by Social Services to allow for sufficient monitoring of this minor’s health.
End of Report
The Fostering Young Heroes Program
Jamie "The Switchblade Kid" Rodgers sat slumped in a rather uncomfortable chair outside her case worker's office. She hated the Social Services building and had seen its interior far too many times to count. She could hear the woman's rapid chatter on the phone and fidgeted in her seat. Resting the back of her head against the wall behind her, she sighed heavily, blowing stray whisps of red-orange hair out of her face.
"Just my rotten luck" she muttered to herself, wincing visibly as the voice in the next room became more shrill. "If only I'd left those Hellions alone...then I wouldn't be here." She crossed her arms and slouched even further in her seat, scowling a bit petulantly as she recalled the events that brought her here once more.
She'd been dumpster diving for her next meal behind a Mexican restaurant in King's Row, when the gaggle of Hellions strolled into the alley. She'd ducked further into the dumpster to avoid being seen. Snippets of their conversation revealed plans to hold up the very restaurant they stood behind. The tell-tale click of 9mm magazines sliding into chambers indicated it would be an armed robbery for sure. Someone could be seriously injured. Jamie's brow furrowed as she worried her lower lip, debating whether or not to interfere. What was that old saying about bringing a knife to a gun fight?
She could hear the leader of the pack of degenerates riling up his thugs, getting them psyched for the main event. It was the remark about "busting a cap..." that made up her mind. As the Hellions grew louder with their hype, she crawled out of the dumpster, slinking through the shadows of empty boxes and wooden pallets to get closer to the entrance of the alley. She had to be sure she could make an escape.
Spying a dented alluminum can, she snatched it up, wrinkling her nose at the odor of rotted food. Closing one eye, she took aim and launched it at the nearest gang-banger. It connected with the back of his head with a hollow "thunk". She snickered, wondering which was more empty, the can, or the doofus's head.
With a curse, the thug and his buddies whirled in her direction, aiming pistols ready to shoot. At least until they saw her, a scrawny, dirty street urchin, hands on defiant hips, scowling at them as fiercely as she could manage. They all burst out laughing, lowering their guns as in unision, they took several menacing steps in her direction.
"Get outta here girl." the leader of the group said, his lips curling into a sneer, revealing yellowed, rotting teeth. Jamie's face contorted in a look of disgust at the sight.
"No, you get outta here, meth-head." she spat back, fingers creeping toward her hidden switch blades.
Her retort was met with furious bellows from the entire gang as she turned and darted out of the alley. She wanted to get them away from the restaurant so they'd forget about robbing it. She was counting on the fact that they'd want to put her in her place for mouthing off to them. After all, she'd heard it enough times..."Nobody disrespects the Hellions and lives to tell about it."
Just as she'd hoped, they all moved to chase after her. They didn't make it very far. All the commotion had drawn the attention of a passing patrolman. He'd come to investigate just as Jamie rounded the corner out of the alley. She ran right into the six-foot-four solid wall of uniform and landed on her backside. She could almost hear the pavement laughing at her as a jelly donut bounced off her forehead onto the grimey street.
"Awww fudge..." Jamie muttered as she looked up at the looming figure. She attempted to scramble to her feet and get away, but a very large hand caught her by the scruff of her neck. "Hold it right there missy...." came the gruff command. "Hey, stop! Police!" was his next order as the Hellions came barreling around the corner.
As soon as they spotted the officer, the gang bangers scattered in different directions and made their escape. Jamie scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. She absolutely hated Hellions!
From there, Jamie found herself in the King's Row Precinct, waiting to be picked up by Social Services. She'd groaned inwardly when the dour-faced case worker came waddling in, her cheap suit rumpled, a mustard stain being the focal point of her ensamble. The woman's car wasn't in much better shape; empty foam coffee cups littering the floor and dashboard, boxes of files and empty take out containers filling the back seat. Heck, the abandoned box car she'd been living in was cleaner than this woman's car!
Upon arriving at the social services office, Jamie was instructed to wait outside the woman's office while she made some calls. No doubt she'd be stuck in yet another foster home. Silently, Jamie lamented the loss of her freedom and prayed the next foster home would be better than the last one.
The sound of her name broke Jamie's train of thought. "Miss Rodgers, come in here." came the irritated command from her case worker. She shuffled into the office, hands stuffed in her pockets, and sat heavily in a chair. The woman pushed smudged spectacles up her pinched nose and flipped through several papers before finally looking at her.
"I have some good news." the woman said. "Social Services has begun a new project for children like....you." The woman didn't have to say "mutants" for Jamie to understand her true meaning. The tone of her voice said it for her. "We have met with a great deal of success by fostering certain types of children with some of the registered super groups in Paragon." The woman paused for dramatic effect. "Based on your....troubled history with foster families, we have decided that super group placement might actually work in your case. At least then you will be in an environment where Heroes of this city can set a good example for you. Maybe then you will stand a chance of becoming a productive member of society."
Jamie could only stare at the woman, dumbfounded over what she was hearing.
"Oh come child, be grateful we've found a place for you that offers a roof over your head and an education! Now go down the hall into the ladies room and clean yourself up a bit. A representative from one of the potential groups should be here shortly." With a dismissive wave of her hand, the woman went back to shuffling through the mountain of files on her desk.
Numbly, Jamie wandered down the hall into the ladies room. Her dirt-smudged face stared back at her from the mirror, eyes a bit wide and frightened, though she'd never admit it out loud. Her clothes were filthy, in sore need of mending, and her hair was in desperate need of washing. As if on automatic pilot, Jamie cleaned herself up as best she could. Her mind raced with questions. She'd never met a hero before. What if they didn't like her? What if they thought her a pest and in the way? Would they teach her how to be a hero? Could she even be a hero? What if they thought she was a bad kid and treated her poorly for it? What if...what if....what if.....
The restroom door banged open as another woman in a suit entered. She cast a disparaging glance in Jamie's direction before disappearing into a stall. With a heavy sigh, shoulders slumped in defeat, Jamie wandered back into the hall and sat outside her case worker's office once more. There she sat....and waited.
An hour passed, which to an idle 14 year old, can feel like an eternity when left with nothing to do but stare at the opposite wall. Which meant she'd had an hour to work herself into a good amount of anxiety at the prospect of living amongst heroes. The rational part of her knew she had no reason to fear any Hero, and that she could be about to embark upon the greatest adventure of her life. The irrational part of her was hearing none of it though, and was making good progress in convincing her that she should bolt, and soon.
Another fifteen minutes passed, during which she paid close attention to her surroundings. The hall was quiet and empty, save for the security guard posted at the end near the door. At the opposite end of the hall, was a door leading to a stairwell. When the guard turned his back to answer the phone, she took advantage of the opportunity to slip out of her seat. With quick, soundless steps, she made her way to the stairwell and quickly made her way to a rear exit of the building. Taking a deep breath, she held it, sending up a silent prayer that she wouldn't trip an alarm when she opened the door. When no lights flashed or alarms sounded, she released the breath she'd been holding and rushed out onto the street.
She wasn't certain of exactly where she was. She'd never been to Atlas Park before so didn't know the streets at all. Furthermore, she had no idea which direction King's Row would be. Her usual confidence flagged as she ambled about the bustling courtyard of City Hall. She didn't dare stop to ask for directions in case it raised someone's suspicions. When she spotted the security guard from the hall, she bolted, knowing her absence had been noticed.
Jamie took a final glance behind her to see if the social worker was following before breaking into a full run. It was then that she nearly ran into a very patriotically dressed young heroine and her darkly clad companion. Little did she know, the pair were actually members of one of the Super Groups that her case worker had contacted. They were otherwise known as All-American Girl and Point-Source.
Jamie skid to a halt before colliding with the red-white-and blue young woman. Her eyes grew large as she got her first close-up glimpse of what appeared to be real heroes. She took a step back, uncertaintly obliterating her usual confidence.
"Hi there!" came the friendly greeting from All-American Girl.
Jamie actually looked around just to make sure she was the one being spoken too. "Um, hi?" was her hesitant response. She mentally kicked herself for stuttering. Here she was, acting like she'd never met a hero before.....wait...she hadn't met a hero before! "Real smooth dummy, real smooth" she thought to herself.
"Um...hello." from Point-Source, followed by a chuckle.
Jamie looked at both heroines with a bit of awe. No doubt she looked like some star-struck kid. She imagined heroes were used to it though, seeing how many of them had achieved celebrity status due to their services to the City.
"I'm sorry I almost ran into you. I promise I'm not usually so clumsy." Jamie blurted.
All-American Girl smiled. "Its not a problem, I've had my share of bumping into people." The masked woman's smile was friendly and her tone held not a hint of annoyance.
Jamie smiled slightly in return. "I'm trying to find the train station....to get back to King's Row. Could you point me in the right direction please?" She held her breath, hoping the question wouldn't raise any questions she wasn't sure she could fib her way out of.
"It's right behind us actually, you can see it in the distance." This from Point-Source.
Jamie peered around the two and nodded. "That it is....silly me." she said nervously. "I'm sorry if I'm keeping you from anything pressing." Both denied she was keeping them from matters that required their attention.
"Are you new to Paragon?" All-American Girl asked politely.
Jamie shifted from one foot to the other and glanced behind her. No sign of the dour-faced social worker yet. She breathed an inward sigh of relief. "Not new to the city, just this part of it." was her response.
"Then in which city are you from?" asked Point-Source.
"King's Row." was Jamie's wary reply.
"I know King's well, I work down there."
Jamie perked up slightly as she looked to Point-Source. "You do? That's cool! Errr, I mean, I've never really seen heroes up close, until now. It's nice to know they still patrol there." She'd always managed to stick to the less-populted parts of King's Row, for fear of discovery.
"Well I do that as well, but I meant my day job."
Shifting nervously, Jamie asked, "What kinda day job?"
"A teen counseling center. That's all I'm pretty much going to say, Identity and all."
"Oh, I see..." Jamie backed up slightly. "Oh right, I totally get it, the secret identity thing, completely understandable." she nodded vigorously. She remembered that part from school. Just then she was bumped into by a passing stranger. She jumped slightly. It wasn't the first time she'd practically been run over by someone in a hurry. But her nerves were a bit on end.
All-American Girl looked at her with what might have been a bit of suspicion. "Are you alright? You seem a little...jumpy."
Jamie glanced at the train station with a bit of longing and looked ready to bolt. Her gaze returned to All-American Girl, expression a bit guilty. "Me? I'm fine, just nervous. I've never talked to heroes before...." she laughed shakily.
All-American Girl raised an eyebrow slightly. "We're people too, no need to be nervous."
"So what brings you to Atlas? Training?" asked Point-Source.
Jamie gulped visibly at the query. "No, not training...I uhh...." she squeaked something in-audible as she glanced behind her and spotted her case worker standing outside City Hall. She looked back to the pair of heroines with a panicked expression. "It was nice meeting you both! But I have to go now." She darted around them before she could be spotted by the woman from social services.
"Umm bye?" from Point-Source. "You too...?" from All-American Girl, her expression a bit confused.
"Bye!" Jamie called as she waved a cheerful, if rushed farewell to the pair. She broke into a full run in the direction of the train station, going as fast as her short legs would carry her. She didn't stop or slow her pace until she reached the station platform, expertly darting between pedestrians. She managed to slip into a waiting car where she took a seat in a shadowy corner. Her heart thundered in her chest as she struggled to catch her breath. Her mind raced with thoughts of what to do next. She couldn't very well return to the part of King's Row she had made home. Social Services would surely notify the authorities she had gone missing again, and that would be one of the first places they'd look. She would have to start over, and be more cautious this time. She had no way of knowing that she could be found very easily by the right people. It was just a matter of time.
A New Beginning: How The Switchblade Kid became Swiss Army Sweetie
Ducking her head against the chilly spring breeze, Jamie made her way toward the area of King’s Row that had been her home for the past year. She could make this trip without fear of discovery now, so there was no need to keep to the shadows any longer. It had been almost a week since she’d been caught by the PPD and returned to the care of Social Services. She had run away again, but a series of life-altering events had given her the courage to go back to ask for the help she’d been too proud to ask for before. Shivering slightly, she stuffed her hands into her pockets as she reflected on the events of the past few days.
It all started within the first five minutes after she’d slipped away from her caseworker’s office. She’d narrowly managed to avoid the security guard after her absence had been noticed. It was while doing so that she nearly plowed right into All-American Girl. She was a very pretty heroine with a warm smile and hair the color of sunshine. She was with another young female hero named Point-Source. She too was very polite to a rather skittish Jamie. At the time, she’d had no way of knowing that both girls were from the very Super Group that social services had been contacting on her behalf. Surely they’d both been a bit confused by the jumpy behavior of a dirt-smudge teenager, but in true hero fashion, they were kind and helpful. After a brief conversation, Jamie parted ways with them and took to the streets once more.
The very next day, an entertaining encounter with yet another heroine named Hostess led to Jamie’s official introduction to Hyperion Shield, Colossal Girl, Knight of Swords and several others from the Gods of the Golden Age. The chance encounter began simply because Hostess insisted Jamie “check out this totally cute guy with great buns!” “Mr. Great Buns” turned out to be Hyperion Shield, and he was in the midst of conducting an interview for the Gods. Jamie hadn’t been too impressed with his buns, then again, she thought all boys had cooties and didn’t put much stock in buns to begin with. Hostess assured her she’d understand when she was older, but Jamie doubted it would make a difference. “Buns” were meant for sitting on anyway, so what did it matter what they looked like! But Jamie had followed Hostess anyway, because she didn’t want to be rude to her. After all, she’d given Jamie several very yummy strawberry fruit pies, so she figured she could at least spare a few moments of her normally squandered time to indulge the quirky funny lady.
It wasn’t long before Colossal Girl made an appearance. One fruit pie mishap later, Jamie got to meet her idol face to face! Now Jamie had admired Colossal Girl from the moment she’d first heard of her in school. She’d even gone so far as to write to “Santa” requesting a Colossal Girl action figure for Christmas. Sadly, it was a letter she’d never had a chance to send, for that year, her foster family had informed her that she had “been too naughty” and Santa had put her on the “naughty” list. She received no presents that year. It was a Christmas that Jamie would never forget as she spent the morning playing in the dirt in the front yard while the rest of the family opened their gifts. She didn’t dwell on it for long, for it was also the year that she’d discovered the truth about “Santa”. She had come to the conclusion that her foster family simply hadn’t felt her worth expending any effort for. But she was glad at least, that the other children hadn’t been deprived of their Christmas. They were all much younger than she was. They would not have taken the same treatment as well.
Shaking her head to rid herself of old memories, she returned to reminiscing about her second encounter with the Gods. She smiled slightly as she recalled how star-struck she’d been by finally meeting her idol in person. She’d even managed to summon the courage to ask for an autograph from Colossal Girl, which was made possible thanks to Hostess and her well-stocked purse. Colossal Girl had happily signed the autograph, which remained in Jamie’s pocket still. Every now and then, she’d take it out and read it reverently. Secretly, it was her most prized possession.
Before long, the small group of Gods turned into quite the entourage as one by one, more of the famed heroes began to appear from all directions. They were all so nice, and each had words of wisdom to share. Slowly, it occurred to Jamie that there was a good chance that she too could be a hero one day. However, “The Switchblade Kid” wasn’t a very heroic name, so it was something she’d have to re-consider. She knew that crime fighting would not be an easy endeavor; then again, nothing worthwhile in life is ever easy. It would take dedication and hard work to earn such a title. But deep down, a part of her always wanted to aspire to do something significant with her life. She was more than an orphan runaway, and she had a good feeling that these people would see that in her.
It was Knight of Swords that had informed her that becoming a hero was not something to be taken lightly. That there would be sacrifices to be made and old habits to give up. Somehow, she knew she’d found her niche. She just had to set aside her fear and her pride and set the wheels in motion. After parting ways with the Gods, she began to do just that. Which was why she was now making this trip back to King’s Row.
Today she would put the past behind her to make way for the future. Her first step was to return to where she’d first met the old homeless man. She wanted to check one last time to see if he was still around. She wasn’t sure if he had died or not, and she’d always wondered what may have happened to him. If he weren’t there, she would at least get closure. If he was there, she could thank him for his kindness and promise to always watch over him. She prayed he would be there because it saddened her to think any ill will had befallen him.
As she approached the damp, dark alley, a smile lit her face. Huddled between a dumpster and several rusted garbage barrels was the old man. He’d never told her his name, so she’d nicknamed him “Sarge” due to the sergeant stripes on his ratty army jacket. Her steps faltered as she drew closer. He huddled further into his jacket and wheezed a rattling cough.
“Sarge?” she called softly, knowing how jumpy he could be. She didn’t want to startle him and cause him further discomfort.
The old man’s head lifted slowly, his cataract clouded gaze moving in her direction. “Kid, is that you?” he called weakly before suffering from another rattling coughing fit.
“Yeah, its me…” she replied as she closed the distance between them and knelt on the damp pavement beside him. She reached out and pulled the ragged lapels of his coat closer together around his thin frame. “I was hoping I’d find you here old man.” She swallowed the hard knot that had formed in her throat at the sight of him. She had never allowed herself to become too attached to anyone in the past because she’d always viewed people’s appearance in her life as temporary. But at that moment, it dawned on her that she truly was fond of the old man and his somewhat eccentric ways. “I didn’t think I’d see you again, but I had to be sure…” she said, grateful that her voice hadn’t cracked.
The old man granted her a toothless, shaky smile as he lifted a frail hand and patted her arm. “I’m sorry I disappeared on ya kiddo.” He wheezed as he spoke and coughed yet again. “Caught me a nasty bug a while back and got lucky when a shelter had an open bed for a time. Was too sick to even move these old bones fer a while.” Another hacking coughing fit wracked his body and he spat off to the side before speaking again. “Sure hope the hoods didn’t give you any trouble while I was gone.”
Jamie’s expression softened. As sick as he was, he was more concerned for her than himself. It amazed her how despite the difficult road some people traveled in life; they could still remain so selfless. The old man shivered violently as the wind picked up. Jamie spotted the patched up army duffle back that contained his few belongings and rummaged through it for his matted wool blanket. She draped it over him and tucked it snugly into place.
“Naw, I managed to keep those hoods in their places.” She replied in a tone she hoped sounded like amusement rather than the sorrow she was feeling. “Sarge” was dying, any fool could see that much. It was a heart-wrenching realization, made worse by the fact that he would die on the street instead of surrounded by loved ones. Loved ones that he’d confessed had abandoned him long ago. It didn’t matter that he’d been slightly drunk when he’d revealed this to her. The fact that he’d done so made her feel an even greater kin ship to him, for she’d been abandoned at one point too.
“So little urchin, what brings you back to this old dump?” He wheezed the question as a pained look clouded his weathered features. “T’be honest, reckoned I’d never see ya ‘gain.”
Heedless of the muck on the ground, Jamie sat back on her haunches. “Well, I came to see if I’d find you here.” She paused as another coughing fit gripped him. “I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. See, I’ve decided what I wanna do with my life, and found a decent group of heroes that can help me do it.” Her heart swelled as the old man flashed the widest, most toothless grin she’d ever seen.
“So my ‘lil dust mite wants’ta be a hero.” His tone was filled with pride, and all for her. She hadn’t realized she’d meant so much to him. Then again, she’d been the first person in years to look at him as more than just another bum.
She nodded and swallowed yet another lump, this one more difficult than the last. “Yup, I sure do. I just wanted to see if you’d be here so I could tell you that it doesn’t mean I’ll stop looking out for you. I’ll be able to bring you hot coffee and more than just stale cheeseburgers to eat. Maybe even a new jacket.”
The old man’s smile faded a bit as his milky eyes focused on her. “That’s mighty kind of ya Mite, and I ‘preciate the gesture, I sure do.” He was forced to pause as his body shook with another coughing fit. This time it was accompanied by blood, definitely not a good sign. He sighed in resignation as he patted her hand. “I’m dieing kiddo.” He held up his hand to silence her as she opened her mouth to protest, despite knowing it was true. “We all gotta go someday. I’m lucky I made it this long. I had a better life than some can claim. Did my duty to my Country honorably. I got no regrets.”
Jamie nodded, unable to stay the flow of silent tears that stained her cheeks. “I’m glad I got to know you Sarge. I’m gonna miss you.” Was all she could manage lest she start bawling. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t want that, and it took a great deal of effort to prevent it. He nodded and patted her hand once more before reaching into his inner breast pocket. After fumbling for a moment, he grunted softly as he found what he was looking for. Very carefully, he produced a delicate silver chain. It draped over his frail fingers, his hand shaking with the effort it took to hold it up. At the end of the chain was a small charm, but she couldn’t quite make it out in the dim alley.
“I want you to have this.” Sarge wheezed heavily. “Got it on one of my tours for my daughter when she was about your age. Never got to give it to her though. Came home and the wife had up and gone. Tried to find her….but can’t find someone that don’t wanna be found.”
Jamie reached out and accepted the delicate chain, clutching it in her palm as though the harder she held on, the longer he might live. “Thank you Sarge.” She whispered, deeply touched that he’d give her something that clearly meant so much to him. He wouldn’t have kept it so long if it weren’t important. He could easily have pawned it and used the money for a few nights in a clean motel room and a few hot meals. On impulse, she moved to sit beside him on the layers of newspaper he sat on. She wrapped an arm around him and hugged him as best she could from such an awkward position. His frail arm came around her small shoulders. With his last bit of strength, he returned the hug.
“Be a good girl, Mite.” He whispered. His hold on her went limp as his dieing breath rattled from his chest. Jamie buried her face against his musty jacket and wept until she had no tears left. She remained there until a light drizzle began to fall. With a small hiccup she sat up, wiping the tears and rain from her face with her sleeve. Slowly, she rose and covered the body of her dear friend with his blanket, shielding him from the rain as best as she could.
With one last look over her shoulder, she whispered a final farewell, and then ran as fast and hard as she could to the King’s Row Precinct. She stopped the first police officer she saw and told him where to find Sarge’s body. After filling out a statement for the officer, she was sent on her way. She paid no heed to the rain as she trudged to the train station. Her heart was heavy with loss. She knew Sarge was in a much better place now. She just wished she could have done something sooner so that he wouldn’t have died on the street. At least he hadn’t been alone. He’d known someone had cared. It wasn’t until she’d found a seat on the train that she recalled the pendant still clutched in her palm. Slowly, she opened her hand to examine it more closely. The small charm was an intricately detailed version of a Swiss Army Knife. She could almost picture Sarge purchasing it for his daughter.
With as much reverence as she treated her Colossal Girl autograph, Jamie carefully clasped the pendant around her neck. It was then she’d decided her next stop would be City Hall Hero Registration. With the death of one hero, the “Swiss Army Sweetie” was born.
Fighting Prowess
Strengths
Weaknesses
Equipment
Friends & Foes
Swiss Army Sweetie is a proud, enthusiastic member of the Young Gods of the Golden Age. The YGA is one of three branches of the Gods of the Golden Age. Technically they are one big super group, but do to game mechanics, they had to split the roster. More information about the "Gods" can be found by visiting [[1]] .
Friends
Hostess:
Colossal Girl:
Scarlet Thrush:
Knight of Swords:
Terratonic:
Hyperion Shield:
