Wraithkiller

From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

Born on October 12, 1984 in a local hospital, Randall came into the world weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Susan and John Walker welcomed their second child with open arms, content that he was healthy, beautiful and happy. Cody, their first child and a year older than Randall, also welcomed him warmly into their family circle. A happy family now seemed complete, with each of them in their respective roles of nurturing Randall into the man he would become.

Over the course of twelve years, Randall blossomed strong and healthy, although with a bit of a ferocious temper streak that would play out in later years. He laughed, played, and wandered through his world, most often taking Cody with him as they braved adventures on their path to becoming men. Cody, being the even-tempered one with a wisdom beyond his years, took to Randall's bravado with keen interest, most often trying to dissuade Randall from chaos that certainly followed into becoming a teenager.

Whereas Cody would encounter problems and use his mind to construct a path that absolved everything to everyone's satisfaction, Randall would do the opposite by jumping headfirst into the fray or tear down walls of carefully-planned negotiation to which there was no other outcome but destruction and willful abandonment. And, even though Randall knew better, he could barely contain his temper that seemed to thrive on the battle itself. In his mind, battling was the ultimate decision-maker. Nothing else made sense than flexing his muscles, brain power, or even ego when it came to winning an outcome, leaving others around him wondering what had just happened in the aftermath.

Susan and John knew of their child's issues early on and had him take several courses that would expend his energy into something else constructive, clinging to the fact that he might grow out of it. Thrown into various sports of middle and high school levels, Randall exceeded all of the coaches expectations and quickly became a top leader and somewhat of a sport's hero. Track and field, football, soccer and baseball strengthened muscles in his early adolescence and somewhat subsided his egotistical tendancies into a more positive framework. He became a leader to which others followed willingly and etched out a legacy for the sports program to struggle in keeping up with. And with every extra-curricular activity he endured, his school studies never faltered behind, earning a 4.0 GPA average.

((Change isn't all its cracked up to be)) But things, as good as they seem, don't always last. Around the age of sixteen, Randall awoke after a stirring and sleepless night of nightmares, his nightclothes torn apart and shredded upon his body. The sun's glaring light blinded him as he stumbled to shut the blinds to his room and his body temperature went beyond normal limits. To his discovery, he couldn't see - his vision considerably impaired. A series of doctors were called and tests administered but no outlying cause be could be determined.

Other discoveries he found, unbeknownst to his parents and brother, were much more horrifying. Once spying a fight between a bully and a friend of his caused his anger to well considerably, a strange ebb of darkness creeping in a circle around the teenaged instigator and himself. Within seconds, the bully dropped to the ground in extreme pain and exhausted strength without Randall even landing a physical strike. The revelation that he had caused it made him run off, trying to cope with the realization of what dormant powers were finally coming to fruition.

But other abilities, amidst the impairments, were a blessing; namely increased strength, heightened speed, and the other four senses of taste, touch, hearing and smell also increased. Throughout the remainder of high school, he kept to himself, lest others find out about his abilities and move to shunning him as a freak or an outcast. Friendships soon dissolved and his relationship with his brother began to strain under the pressure of his new-found powers. His vision never recovered and it began to take a toll, as he soon found out that dark sunglasses were the only recourse - even wearing them in his high school photos for the yearbook.

Randall became more withdrawn as Cody graduated high school and left town to join the Army. Dropping from the sports program, Randall took to solace as his constant companion and soon dropped out of high school. He earned his degree through night classes since it afforded him less attention and it seemed like nighttime was his element.

(( A lonely path no more)) Upon graduating from his night classes, he took off on his own and joined the Navy. Travel to other lands outside of his native Montana appealed to him and the idea of a structured environment also held his interest. Scoring high on the ASVAB test, he could have chosen a myriad of professions, but instead he chose to test himself and his limits by entering the SEAL program.

Even though his vision was held in question, he scored extremely high in all other tests given to him and thus a waiver was granted. Special sunglasses were constructed by the advisors and he went through the program with flying colors, breaking several course records by the previous applicants.

Within the realm of military service, he found his element - the camaraderie he attained among his fellow teammates filled the emptiness within his soul, not to mention the physical stress he was subjected to made him stronger - not only in body but mind as well. He no longer felt like an outcast; self-assuredness, honor, confidence and even cockiness were the mantle of traits he clung to. Being trained in an arsenal of weapons the military had to offer, Randall took to close combat more readily. He fought in the military boxing tournaments often, training his reflexes to be a perfect combat weapon - not only winning the championship belt, but maintaining that status three consecutive years thereafter.

Graduating at the top of his class, Randall's ranking within the organization of the Navy SEALs continued to excel. Various missions of importance kept him tightly grounded to his shipmates and he soon learned to control the anger issues of past reknown, not to mention the other powers that manifested themselves during his teen years. His endearing personality shone through once again, capturing the heart of a young lady and maintaining a relationship with her for several years, despite the hardships of military life.

(( Intoxicating Spirits Not Found )) The missions he and his shipmates were sent on continued to test his resolve. Sand-infested locales, swamp-ridden jungles and urban environments all were accomplished successfully with nary a casualty on Randall's team. But one fateful day, things were bound to change - Randall just didn't expect it to be as rapidly as it was.

Night time fell upon his squad as they gathered in sentry positions around the camp they had set up. A simple reconnaisance mission, they were instructed to survey a foreign military structure and bring back intel. The night was peaceful enough...

Screams tore through the night as creatures appeared from the darkness, claiming two of Randall's squad. Several rounds of ammunition later and nothing could be found as to their disappearance. After a brief silence which seemed like an eternity, a shadowy figure flew in and grasped Randall by the shoulder, lifting him high above the ground and tearing into his skin with razor-sharp talons. Randall managed to strike the creature which promptly let go, dropping him several feet into the earth below.

Throughout the remainder of the night, a dozen or more of creatures attacked Randall and his squad, with Randall throwing himself into the fray and bravely defending the last of his teammates. His fists glowed with a white-hot ember of fury and the surrounding darkness he eminated sealed his victory in the battle, saving his teammates from certain death.

Discovery of audio and video feedback from the mission concluded these creatures were 'Wraiths' or spirits, as they were commonly known. Accounts of the few surviving members recall the exploits of Randall - as he threw himself in the middle of the entire encounter - a strange glowing energy surrounding him as he pummeled the spirits into submission. Not only that, but he was the only one that could ‘physically’ attack them with just his bare fists...an accomplishment no one else could muster.

(( Another Hero Enters the City))

With a medal of bravery awarded, a moniker of "Wraithkiller" soon attached itself to his accomplishments. Concluding that he was meant for more, he finished his enlistment with the Navy and moved to Rhode Island. Enrolling into the super-powered hero program, he took to countless tasks of protecting the city and earned another title of "Hero to the People" a couple of years later.

Wraithkiller now protects his chosen city with a grand persona, administering swift justice and adhering to the tasks asked of him. He has regained his path into the military with the enrollment into the "Portal Corporation Military Task Force" and securing his destiny for many years to come.

Currently, he has been awarded the ranking of Captain within the organization.

(WIP)