Sunday, February 21, 2016

Quest: With a Mighty Roar! - Issue 58


{Flashback}

{Location: Himalayas, Earth}

A lone figure stood on the mountain top admiring the scenery.

Patrick tugged at the inseam of his leggings, adjusting them for comfort.  It was the first time he'd suited up in full costume and regalia, and the outfit was more snug than he'd thought it would be; he was glad he'd ignored his first instinct to "go commando."  The material was thin, no protection whatsoever against the icy winds billowing his toga-cape, but he no longer required any protection from the cold anyway.  They had seen to that.

It had taken him weeks to work up the nerve to don mask and cape for the first time -- to begin his mission of justice -- but the day had finally arrived.  Not that he expected to encounter evil-doers in the Himalayas, but it had seemed fitting to inaugurate his career as a super-hero (and agent of the space gods) here at the very top of the world.  And it gave him a chance to reflect upon his mission, in peace and solitude.  After all, what were the chances he'd run into someone here, on a remote mountain pass at the ends of the Earth...  

An unexpected person walked up the trail to him.

“Hello, I am Nomad. It would be a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Patrick stared, nonplussed, waving mutely in response.

“I would have addressed you by your hero name but it appears that Dimensipedia has 3 different names listed for you with the historians constantly argue which is right. I am guessing Trekker but if I am wrong let me know. I just didn’t have time to go to the Interdimensional Library to do the proper research this time.”

"Trekker?  I, uh, no.  No, it's actually Emis--" Patrick frowned.  He hadn't actually been given any specific messages to convey to the leaders of mankind just yet, so he couldn't really call himself a true emissary.  "That is, it's Harb--” Nor even been directed to herald The Arrival, yet.  He shrugged.  "Sure.  Trekker.  Why not?  Thanks for the suggestion."

“Earth needs your help. The Domain is preparing to invade using an Interdimensional bridge being built from the Scarlet Orb. I need you to join the other Earths’ heroes that are trying to stop this.”

Trekker stared at Nomad in confusion.  Domain?  Interdimensional bridge?  Scarlet Orb?  Could this Nomad be one of ... Them?  No.  He doubted that any of Them will be wearing safari jackets and sunglasses when They arrive.  


"Here allow me to open a door for you."


Then again...  Trekker stared in wonder as Nomad casually shattered the barrier between worlds.  He gave Nomad a silent salute; then plunged into the portal.


{End of Flashback}
{Location: Domain Dimension}

Although they had just met, Red Hawk felt like he was abandoning his teammates when the tumbleweed demons attacked. He and Orchid should have been the ones holding them at bay while the others moved on, but there was no time to argue with the veteran heroes of Earth's other dimensions. He would not abandon the Machinist in this domain.

He marveled at the pink pachyderms as Crude met them head on ... literally. They looked less like demons than a child's stuffed animal he saw given away at Christmas. Not was as it seemed here. He began to suspect the creatures here likely no more were willing servants than he had been of Cyberdoom. It wasn't just Earth in need of protection. Nomad's recruiting of heroes proved this was a Crisis of Infinite proportions.

The Guardians and Menagerie continued down the twisting path. They saw in the distance a large chamber. They stopped to scout out what it was. Before they could split up they heard the sounds of something coming up behind them.

It was Conquistador and a stranger.

Conquistador told the heroes how they had defeated the Y’Tego but he was the only one not incapacitated. Nomad had arrived after the battle was over. He had brought Trekker with him.

Red Hawk asked where Nomad was now. Conquistador told him that Nomad was taking Machinist, Night Wraith, and Cougar back to their dimensions. Nomad would take back Crude too.

Red Hawk sighed in relief. He was determined there would be no more Agent Americas left behind.

Conquistador introduced Trekker to the team.

Adamas greeted Trekker, "Always happy to meet a new hero."

"Uh, yes.  Thank you.  I'm Em... that is, I'm Trekker."

The heroes scouted the area. There weren’t any traps surrounding it. They decided to enter the large chamber formed of sparkling golden Brain Coral; they immediately sense the presence of a great intellect in danger. Menagerie changed his form into that of a grizzly bear. There were 4 Ghouls physically assaulting the coral growths.


They heard a telepathic cry for help. It came for the Brain Coral.


[49] Trekker stared in confusion and awe.  He'd been to every corner of the Earth, both before and after his powers had been bestowed upon him, but he'd never seen anything as surreal as the landscape he found himself in now.  "I'm new at this hero thing, but I'm guessing those..." He pointed at the ghouls.  "...are bad?" Trekker held his action waiting for the team’s response.

[42] As they came into the clearing, Adamas hurled himself at one of the Ghouls, "The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but other than grounding us, the brain coral has not harmed us.  If it needs help, I say we help," glancing back at the team leader.

Placing himself between the team and the attackers, Adamas blasted the closest Ghoul.  Multiple Power Blasts fired from Adamas’ eyes striking the Ghoul hard in its fur. It withstood the blasts with only singed fur to show for it.

{GM Note: The Ghoul’s fur provides it Armor protection. Adamas’ blast struck its armor}

[41] "Well, that answers that question."  Trekker took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.  He hadn't considered the practical ramifications of super-heroics, which is to say combat, as carefully as he should have.  The last time he'd been in a fight was the fifth grade, and he'd lost that fight, to a kid half his size.  "Ah, screw it."  As super-heroic catchphrases went, that wasn't a very good one, but it was enough to get him moving.

His companions suddenly seemed to be moving in slow motion.  They weren't actually going any slower, nor was he moving any faster.  It was the flow of time that changed speed, and Trekker no longer occupied the same space-time continuum as his fellow heroes.  He envisioned a line of space-time puncture points between himself and the nearest monster, and smiled.

Clearing the distance between himself and his foe in an instant, leaving a line of after-images of himself behind him, he hefted his Caduceus and gave a mighty swing.

He missed.

{GM Note: With the attack from behind bonus of +4, Trekker needed 11 or less on a 1d20 to hit. He rolled a 12}

[34] Trekker gave a second mighty swing and missed again.

{GM Note: Needing an 11 or less he rolled a 13}

[30] Alerted by Menagerie the team jumped into action. Following the true Guardian's lead, Red Hawk again took position at his wing adding his own lesser firepower to the legendary Adamas. Dual Vibrational Blasts struck the same Ghoul that Adamas hadn't finished off. His blast hit the signed fur, which no longer provided any protection. The Ghoul screamed in pain as it flew 20 feet away. It landed with a loud THUD! It was knocked unconscious.

{GM Note: On the second blast Red Hawk did 9 points of damage to the Ghoul’s Hit Points. On the 1d00 roll for KO, the roll was 03.}

[30] The Skink said, "I wanna run up and attack more of these goons, but im gonna have to run all over the brain coral to do it. i dont wanna hurt it with my claws..."

“It is okay, my skin is tough enough that your claws won’t do more than a little scratch. Run all over me to save me!” Skink heard the Brain Coral speak in his mind.

Skink leaped up to the nearest coral branch. He performed a forward flip off of it. In leaps and bounds he charged toward the left corner ghoul. As he moved by it he attempted to strike the Domain pack demon with his claws. He missed.

[27] StrikeForce kept his senses up and his head on a swivel. He moved to not allow an adversary a shot at him from behind. He attacked Ghoul 1 with his staff, as it was the only opponent that was engaged with his teammates. He struck twice with his staff hitting the Domain pack demon where it was vulnerable. The Ghoul groaned as it flew back 60 feet from its attacker.

[26] Ghoul 4 quit attacking the Brian Coral. It charged toward Adamas. Leaping into the air it struck Adamas in the chest with its claws. The Alien Powerhouse withstood the attack.

{GM Note: Ghoul did 11 points of damage. All damage to Adamas’ invulnerability, -11 to Invulnerability. Invulnerability is now 13}

[25] Ghoul 3 charged toward the Guardians. With a mighty leap it attacked Red Hawk with its claws. The Ghoul’s talons passed through Red Hawk’s vibrating body without harming him. The Domain pack demon’s attack missed.

[24] Black Orchid turned invisible. She said nothing and as she had done multiple times before she moved in to support and protect her teammates. She shot her vacuum blast at the one Ghoul that hadn’t attacked yet, draining energy from the Domain pack demon; bringing it closer to becoming fatigued.

[24] Ghoul 1 picked itself up from ground. It ran the 60 feet back toward its attacker. The Domain pack demon attempted to rake its claws across StrikeForce’s chest. Its attack missed.

[24] {GM Note: Ghoul 2 failed its wakeup roll.}

[19] In a series of trans-dimensional teleports while suspending time, Trekked didn’t leave behind a blur when he used his "speed," everyone saw a series of after-images; it reminded the Guardians of somebody at a dance club between flashes of a strobe light. Trekker stopped behind Ghoul number 1. With a mighty swing of his Caduceus he missed again.

[17] With a load roar, Menagerie charged toward the Ghouls. The Shapeshifting Shaman attacked Ghoul 1. He bit into the side of the Domain pack demon. It cried in pain as its fur failed to protect it. It was hurt but still able to fight.

[14] Conquistador floated behind Menagerie. He moved to get the best line of sight. With a wave of his hands, light formed around them. A solid beam on matter sprang forward rocketing toward Ghoul 1. Conquistador’s solid shaft of light missed his target.

[04] Trekker swung at the Ghoul again. This time his Caduceus staff connected. With a loud CRACK! he hit the Ghoul in a spot where its fur wasn’t protecting it. The Domain pack demon groaned in pain as it flew 10 feet away from Trekker.

With a solid THUD! It landed on the ground. Its morale was broken. Ghoul #1 begged for mercy and asked to join Earth’s Pack.

<What is your reply to its request?>


<Replies and Actions due Mar 7th>

Battle Conditions:
Adamas                        Hit Points:   46  Power Points:   54         Invulnerability: 13
Black Orchid                 Hit Points:   30  Power Points:   81         Willpower Defense active; Invisible
Red Hawk                     Hit Points:   74  Power Points:   58         Invulnerability: 10; Willpower Def active
StrikeForce                  Hit Points:   60  Power Points:   80         Invulnerability: 28
The Skink                     Hit Points:   30  Power Points:   73         Evading
Trekker                         Hit Points:   11  Power Points:   36         Adaptation Defense active        

Phase of Action for next turn:
[43]       Trekker 1st action
[42]       Adamas
[34]       The Skink
[31]       Red Hawk
[29]       StrikeForce
[28]       Trekker 2nd action
[21]       Black Orchid
[20]       Menagerie
[19]       Conquistador
[13]       Trekker 3rd action

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adamas greeted Trekker, "Always happy to meet a new hero." To Nomad, "Thanks for continuing to replenish our ranks"

As they came into the clearing, Adamas hurled himself at one of the Ghouls, "The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but other than grounding us, the brain coral has not harmed us.  If it needs help, I say we help," glancing back at the team leader.

(Unless Red Hawk signals him to stop, he will continue)

Placing himself between the team and the attackers, he will blast the closest Ghoul.  Multiple Power Blasts, (2) not auto-fire.


Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Guardians and Menagerie continued down the twisting path. They saw in the distance a large chamber. They stopped to scout out what it was. Before they could split up they heard the sounds of something coming up behind them.

It was Conquistador and a stranger.

Conquistador told the heroes how they had defeated the Y’Tego but he was the only one not incapacitated. Nomad had arrived after the battle was over. He had brought Trekker with him.

Conquistador introduced Trekker to the team.

{Flashback}

{Location: Himalayas, Earth}

A lone figure stood on the mountain top admiring the scenery.

Patrick tugged at the inseam of his leggings, adjusting them for comfort.  It was the first time he'd suited up in full costume and regalia, and the outfit was more snug than he'd thought it would be; he was glad he'd ignored his first instinct to "go commando."  The material was thin, no protection whatsoever against the icy winds billowing his toga-cape, but he no longer required any protection from the cold anyway.  They had seen to that.

It had taken him weeks to work up the nerve to don mask and cape for the first time -- to begin his mission of justice -- but the day had finally arrived.  Not that he expected to encounter evil-doers in the Himalayas, but it had seemed fitting to inaugurate his career as a super-hero (and agent of the space gods) here at the very top of the world.  And it gave him a chance to reflect upon his mission, in peace and solitude.  After all, what were the chances he'd run into someone here, on a remote mountain pass at the ends of the Earth...  

An unexpected person walked up the trail to him.

“Hello, I am Nomad. It would be a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Patrick stared, nonplussed, waving mutely in response.

“I would have addressed you by your hero name but it appears that Dimensipedia has 3 different names listed for you with the historians constantly argue which is right. I am guessing Trekker but if I am wrong let me know. I just didn’t have time to go to the Interdimensional Library to do the proper research this time.”

"Trekker?  I, uh, no.  No, it's actually Emis--" Patrick frowned.  He hadn't actually been given any specific messages to convey to the leaders of mankind just yet, so he couldn't really call himself a true emissary.  "That is, it's Harb--"  Nor even been directed to herald The Arrival, yet.  He shrugged.  "Sure.  Trekker.  Why not?  Thanks for the suggestion."

“Earth needs your help. The Domain is preparing to invade using an Interdimensional bridge being built from the Scarlet Orb. I need you to join the other Earths’ heroes that are trying to stop this.”

Trekker stared at Nomad in confusion.  Domain?  Interdimensional bridge?  Scarlet Orb?  Could this Nomad be one of ... Them?  No.  He doubted that any of Them will be wearing safari jackets and sunglasses when They arrive. 

"Here allow me to open a door for you."

Then again...  Trekker stared in wonder as Nomad casually shattered the barrier between worlds.  He gave Nomad a silent salute, then plunged into the portal.

{End of Flashback}

Adamas greeted Trekker, "Always happy to meet a new hero." To Nomad, "Thanks for continuing to replenish our ranks."

[OOC: I don't think Nomad came with Trekker.  It was Conquistador who escorted him in.]

IC:

"Uh, yes.  Thank you.  I'm Em... that is, I'm Trekker."

Conquistador told them that Crude was still fighting the Devilopes when they passed through. He expected the Oily Goliath to win but wasn’t expecting him to be able to join them in time. The fight appeared legendary and wouldn’t be done anytime soon.

The heroes scouted the area. There weren’t any traps surrounding it. They decided to enter the large chamber formed of sparkling golden Brain Coral, they immediately sense the presence of a great intellect in danger. Menagerie changes his form into that of a grizzly bear. There are 4 Ghouls physically assaulting the coral growths.

They heard a telepathic cry for help. It came for the Brain Coral.

Trekker stared in confusion and awe.  He'd been to every corner of the Earth, both before and after his powers had been bestowed upon him, but he'd never seen anything as surreal as the landscape he found himself in now.  "I'm new at this hero thing, but I'm guessing those..." He pointed at the ghouls.  "...are bad?"

As they came into the clearing, Adamas hurled himself at one of the Ghouls, "The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but other than grounding us, the brain coral has not harmed us.  If it needs help, I say we help,"  glancing back at the team leader.

"Well, that answers that question."  Trekker took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.  He hadn't considered the practical ramifications of super-heroics, which is to say combat, as carefully as he should have.  The last time he'd been in a fight was the fifth grade, and he'd lost that fight, to a kid half his size.  "Ah, screw it."  As super-heroic catchphrases went, that wasn't a very good one, but it was enough to get him moving.

His companions suddenly seemed to be moving in slow motion.  They weren't actually going any slower, nor was he moving any faster.  It was the flow of time that changed speed, and Trekker no longer occupied the same space-time continuum as his fellow heroes.  He envisioned a line of space-time puncture points between himself and the nearest monster, and smiled.

Clearing the distance between himself and his foe in an instant, leaving a line of after-images of himself behind him, he hefted his Caduceus and gave a mighty swing.

[OOC: Since his super-speed is actually him engaging in a series of trans-dimensional teleports while suspending time, he doesn't leave behind a blur when he uses his "speed," so much as a series of after-images (like when you watch somebody at a dance club between flashes of a strobe light).

Not sure if I am supposed to just post my first action for the fight or all of the actions I get in the turn.  He's going to swing his staff at the nearest ghoul and keep swinging.  If he gets hit (and stays conscious) he'll use his next action to set up an evasion defense, then go back to swinging.]

Christian
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I need all actions for the turn. I know this will require a few If-Then statements.  We will figure it out together

Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, then.  First action is to move to the nearest ghoul using Heightened Speed and attack with his staff.  He will try to use his superior "speed" to get behind his target and attack from the rear.  Unless one of the following If/then statements apply, he will continue to attack until the ghoul is out of action, at which point he will move to a new ghoul if any are available.

If he is attacked in return and successfully hit, he will roll with the punch and then use his next available action phase to set up an evasion defense.  Then he will get back into the fight, attacking the nearest ghoul (from behind again).

If any of his new allies is struck and knocked out of the fight, he will use his Heightened Speed to drag that character someplace out of the action, then get back to the fight on the next available action phase.

Christian
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: I missed that.  Please remove the greeting to Nomad.

As to continuing actions, Adamas will remain focused on each opponent until they go down, and then move to where he is most needed.  His defensive actions will be more to stay between the other heroes and the enemy than to prevent damage to himself.  Movement should be used to that end.

Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: StrikeForce will keep his senses up and his head on a swivel. He will use movement to not allow an adversary a shot at him from behind. He will attack with his staff, preferably against an opponent that is engaged with one of his teammates. He will "stick and move" on targets of opportunity.

Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Hawk

Although they had just met, Red Hawk felt like he was abandoning his teammates when the tumbleweed demons attacked. He and Orchid should have been the ones holding them at bay while the others moved on, but there was no time to argue with the veteran heroes of Earth's other dimensions. He would not abandon the Machinist in this domain. There would be no more Agent Americas left behind.

He marveled at the pink pachyderms as Crude met them head on ... literally. They looked less like demons than a child's stuffed animal he saw given away at Christmas. Not was as it seemed here. He began to suspect the creatures here likely no more were willing servants than he had been of Cyberdoom. It wasn't just Earth in need of protection. Nomad's recruiting of heroes proved this was a Crisis of Infinite proportions.

Alerted by Menagerie the team jumped into action. Following the true Guardian's lead, Red Hawk again took position at his wing adding his own lesser firepower to the legendary Adamas.


[Actions] Dual Vibrational Blast following up any any opponent Adamas hasn't finished off and moving counter-clockwise when that option isn't available. Vibrational and Willpower defenses activated.

OOC: His new power and the environment should give him power points to burn so let’s see how that plays out. Tom could you post updated character sheets on the site? It's nice to see and easy to reference.

John
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Im late!

All of the skink's actions are move-bys on the left corner ghoul... he will maximize his move rate, and make a series of hit and run claw attacks on the creature...

Chuck
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I wanna run up and attack more of these goons, but im gonna have to run all over the brain coral to do it.. i dont wanna hurt it with my claws..."

Chuck
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Trekker

Secret Identity: Trekker
Name: Patrick Cavanagh
Age: ??
Gender: M
Height: 5'8"

Weight: 190 lbs
Level: 1
Experience Points: 0
Player: Chris
Super Powers and Super Skills:
1. Teleportation: Maximum Range = 500000000" (473485 miles), PR = 8 per use. 
        a. Limitation: He can only carry inanimate matter when teleporting.  He cannot bring other living
2. Heightened Speed (Multiple Teleports): +820" ground movement, +28 initiative.
3. Adaptation: PR = 1 point of Power when used to defend against an attack, activates automatically (no action or PR cost)

Equipment: Caduceus (staff): Accuracy: +3, HTH + 1d6 damage

Statistics:
Strength: 10
Endurance: 18
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 10

Hit Points: 11
Power Points: 50

Carrying Capacity: 266 lbs
Hand-to-Hand Damage: 1d6

Accuracy: +1 (Including Power Mods)
Damage Modifier: +1 (Including Power Mods)

Detect Hidden: 8
Detect Danger:  12

Reaction Modifiers: 0 from Good 0 from Evil

Movement: Ground:  40 per turn
Movement: Teleportation: 860 per turn
Healing Rate: 2 hit points per day

Occupation: Traveling Photojournalist
Security Clearance: 6
Wealth: 10

Skills:
Fine Arts (Photography)
Scholar (Mythology)
Luck Points: 1

AKA Emissary and Harbinger

Patrick was born to upper middle class parents in a suburb of Our Fair City.  Enjoying a comfortable childhood, he developed an interest in photography at an early age, earning spare cash as a portrait photographer while in high school.  He attended college, pursuing a fine arts degree (with a focus in photography), but lacked the discipline to complete his studies, dropping out after two years.

He also developed an early and abiding interest in mythology, particularly Greek and Roman myth.  He took a few courses in courses in comparative mythology while still in college, but conflated his serious academic studies with the ancient astronaut theories of Zacharia Sitchin (Sitchin's theories concerned the gods of ancient Sumeria, but Patrick applied them more generally to all the gods of ancient myth, including the Greek gods).

A lifelong hiker, Patrick set out to see the world, hitchhiking across the globe, visiting ancient temples and ruins, museums housing religious relics and works of art depicting mythological figures, etc., earning a modest living (enough to support his nomadic lifestyle) by selling photos of the great works.

While he was photographing ruins in Crete, an earthquake trapped him under a pile of collapsed rubble.  While trapped, he experienced a vision of Hermes Diaktoros (Hermes in his capacity as messenger of the Greeks gods), who confirmed Patrick's theories about the Olympians being "space gods" and stated that they would soon return to Earth to end the current "Iron Age" and usher in a new "Golden Age of Man."  Furthermore, the gods had chosen Patrick to act as the harbinger of their return and an emissary between the gods and humanity.  To this end, they granted Patrick the power to "trek between worlds," the better to act as an agent of the gods. 

Hermes vanished in a cloud of mist, after which Patrick awakened from his vision, mysteriously freed from the rubble.  Over the following weeks, he discovered that he had the power to warp spacetime, enabling him to puncture holes into an alternate universe (which he believes corresponds to the Greek underworld, Hades) in order to teleport vast distances in our dimension, and to simulate superhuman speed by combining "micro-jumps" with a time dilation effect.


Patrick has chosen to use his newfound gifts as a superhero while awaiting further instructions from the space gods...

The Skink


Secret Identity: The Skink
Name: Lester Harris
Age: 16
Gender: M
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 160 lbs
Level: 2
Experience Points: 4,859
Player: Chuck


Super Powers and Super Skills:
1. Animal Plant Powers: Skink Powers
     a.Natural Weaponry (claws) +2 to hit, +4 damage, Special: cling move on porous surfaces. will not work on glass or smooth metal
     b.Ht. endurance A: +9
     c. Speed bonus: +80" to move rate
2. Ht Agility B: +16
3. Ht. Senses: Thermo Vision: The skink can see in the dark, can see variations in temperature in objects and people
4. (latent, unknown)
5. (latent, unknown)
6. Ht Strength A: +7 (2nd level Advancement)

Weakness: Prejudice. The Skink has a reputation as a burglar and an eco-terrorist to some officials and authorities.


Statistics:
Strength: 19
Endurance: 23
Agility: 26
Intelligence: 14
Charisma: 10

Hit Points: 44
Power Points: 82

Carrying Capacity: 733 lbs
Hand-to-Hand Damage: 1d8

Accuracy: +6 (Including Power Mods)
Damage Modifier: +7 (Including Power Mods)

Detect Hidden: 10
Detect Danger: 14


Reaction Modifiers: 0 from Good 0 from Evil

Movement: Ground: 68 per turn
Movement: Leaping: 148 per turn
Healing Rate: 2.4 hit points per day

Occupation:
Security Clearance: 6
Wealth: 15

Skills:
Athletics (Sports)
Book Knowledge: Scientific History
Natural/Basic Science
Research
Scientist: Zoology
Scholar: History


Luck Points: 2

"Lester Harris" was the name given to a strange infant, found on the doorstep of Dr. Henry Harris. Harris, a leading genetic researcher at Axiom Labs in Megalopolis' Foundry district, kept the baby's origin a secret, and raised the boy as his own, while secretly studying him.

Harris soon discovered that by some unknown process, his new son's human DNA had somehow been merged or spliced with reptilian DNA, giving him extraordinary speed, physical stamina. At first he thought this was some natural mutation, but further research began to show that he may have been artificially altered as an embryo. From a very young age, Henry Harris began to test Lester's abilities. The doctor also home schooled the boy as much as he knew about science and science history, and Lester grew up happy like that, helping his adoptive father in the lab.

Dr. Harris began to become concerned for Lester's socialization, and began to consider enrolling him in a local high school. Lester had already begun to show a desire to use his powers to serve the city as a superhero, and the two developed Lester's Skink persona and costume to aid in this, to keep his private life and super heroic life separate.

While out one night patrolling the city on one of his first times out, Lester, now garbed as The Skink, returned to the lab to find it ablaze and vandalized, and his beloved father and mentor murdered. Security, some police, and reporters unfortunately arrived right as The Skink moved the doctor from the burning building, mistook him for the perpetrator of the crime, and The Skink has had a dicey reputation with the law ever since, at least some of them. He now tries to pick up the pieces of his life and continue on somehow.