Superheroes have been around since the first decade of the 21st century, possibly longer. Or rather I should say superpowered humans and arch villains. You know what they say about absolute power….
Most people who developed such powers simply chose to use them for their own gain. And those who chose the path of the hero … also sought to gain off their powers. In truth there were very few real superheroes who just wanted to save the world. People just weren’t that noble. Most of our so called heroes took on sponsors. Many gathered legal support to handle contracts with clauses about insurance and legal liability. Some superheroes weren’t heroes at all, but honest to God extortionists - archvillains with criminals on their payroll. Of course such stories were squashed. Governments soon found themselves bowing to Capes. I mean how do you fight some guy who can float there in the air while bullets merely bounce off? And how do you deal with those archvillains when the superheroes go on strike?
Some superheroes simply quit when things got tough and the villains started to get lethal. Others simply got killed - either forced into lethal situations by their contracts or hunted down by villains. Today the world is on the verge of falling into a real Dark Age of Supervillains.
In 2037 the government suddenly started collecting civilians - the most unlikely group of misfits one could imagine. Their orders came from the top. “Matter of National Security” was the catchphrase of the day. The misfits included a single mom, a three time loser, some guy still living with his Mom, a Goth chick, and other similar people. Many might have called them losers or nobodies. Their lives simply weren’t amounting to much. Some couldn’t hold a job and those who could were stuck in dead end minimum wage jobs or worked two jobs to get by. None were especially beautiful or handsome, nor especially ugly for that matter, not short, nor fat, nor overly tall. They were mediocre.
How could these people possibly be special?
Perhaps the most common theme among these people was the fact that they all had at least one redeeming quality. The Three Time Loser was caught shoplifting - a box of cake mix and can of frosting. It was to bake a cake for his kid’s birthday. (This story can be changed but it should be something very similar.) The beginning of the movie Battleship is another excellent example. (Now that guy had tenacity - not much for brains - but tenacity.)
Project M (for Misfits and the alien’s name - “M”) was created through DARPA from carefully selected Marines, FBI, CIA, Navy Seals, and other agencies as support personnel for the Misfits. Even these men and women had the look and feel of average. They weren’t made from those Ubermensch molds from which Hollywood gets its actors. Small groups were sent to pick these people up had no idea what was so important about these men and women. It was all done Cloak and Dagger like - no publicity, no spectacles, nothing to make the news. In some cases they got the subjects to bring themselves in - with job offers, invitations to a party and such.
The truth was that an alien had arrived with an offer to the US President. Collect the specific beings they named, and he would give them the chance to save the human race from its own self annihilation. The alien appeared in various forms. Rarely did anyone see the same thing. And in truth the alien had already met each of the Misfits in one form or another. To each of these people he would grant unfathomable powers.
The government made its own pitch.
Salaries with hazardous duty pay
Cover ID’s (new jobs as needed)
Full medical and dental (including immediate family).
College Tuition (including immediate family)
Training and gear (The alien will handle supergear and costumes.)
Funding for Personal Bases (ie that Batcave under your house, or a REALLY cool car - though the latter you could only drive around in costume).
Characters
Powers will be assigned. They will develop slowly at first, then grow. There is no special Format for the CS, though a blank is provided so you can see the minimum info I am looking for. You do NOT need to submit a book. Please hide any animated gifs in a hider. Be sure to make a note of your stereotype - single mom, three time loser, etc.
Ultimately your powers are going to end up on par with the villains. That is the whole point of you being granted powers.
Plot
The initial plot is the group being gathered by the government. Next comes the Pitch. Then Power Bestowal. (It is not completely random. M will interview each person.) Next is training. Then some field work. Finally you go after the bad guys.
At least … that’s the plan … You know what they say about plans. Just think what will happen if the bad guys learn of your group before it is ready.
Most people who developed such powers simply chose to use them for their own gain. And those who chose the path of the hero … also sought to gain off their powers. In truth there were very few real superheroes who just wanted to save the world. People just weren’t that noble. Most of our so called heroes took on sponsors. Many gathered legal support to handle contracts with clauses about insurance and legal liability. Some superheroes weren’t heroes at all, but honest to God extortionists - archvillains with criminals on their payroll. Of course such stories were squashed. Governments soon found themselves bowing to Capes. I mean how do you fight some guy who can float there in the air while bullets merely bounce off? And how do you deal with those archvillains when the superheroes go on strike?
Some superheroes simply quit when things got tough and the villains started to get lethal. Others simply got killed - either forced into lethal situations by their contracts or hunted down by villains. Today the world is on the verge of falling into a real Dark Age of Supervillains.
In 2037 the government suddenly started collecting civilians - the most unlikely group of misfits one could imagine. Their orders came from the top. “Matter of National Security” was the catchphrase of the day. The misfits included a single mom, a three time loser, some guy still living with his Mom, a Goth chick, and other similar people. Many might have called them losers or nobodies. Their lives simply weren’t amounting to much. Some couldn’t hold a job and those who could were stuck in dead end minimum wage jobs or worked two jobs to get by. None were especially beautiful or handsome, nor especially ugly for that matter, not short, nor fat, nor overly tall. They were mediocre.
How could these people possibly be special?
Perhaps the most common theme among these people was the fact that they all had at least one redeeming quality. The Three Time Loser was caught shoplifting - a box of cake mix and can of frosting. It was to bake a cake for his kid’s birthday. (This story can be changed but it should be something very similar.) The beginning of the movie Battleship is another excellent example. (Now that guy had tenacity - not much for brains - but tenacity.)
Project M (for Misfits and the alien’s name - “M”) was created through DARPA from carefully selected Marines, FBI, CIA, Navy Seals, and other agencies as support personnel for the Misfits. Even these men and women had the look and feel of average. They weren’t made from those Ubermensch molds from which Hollywood gets its actors. Small groups were sent to pick these people up had no idea what was so important about these men and women. It was all done Cloak and Dagger like - no publicity, no spectacles, nothing to make the news. In some cases they got the subjects to bring themselves in - with job offers, invitations to a party and such.
The truth was that an alien had arrived with an offer to the US President. Collect the specific beings they named, and he would give them the chance to save the human race from its own self annihilation. The alien appeared in various forms. Rarely did anyone see the same thing. And in truth the alien had already met each of the Misfits in one form or another. To each of these people he would grant unfathomable powers.
The government made its own pitch.
Salaries with hazardous duty pay
Cover ID’s (new jobs as needed)
Full medical and dental (including immediate family).
College Tuition (including immediate family)
Training and gear (The alien will handle supergear and costumes.)
Funding for Personal Bases (ie that Batcave under your house, or a REALLY cool car - though the latter you could only drive around in costume).
Characters
Powers will be assigned. They will develop slowly at first, then grow. There is no special Format for the CS, though a blank is provided so you can see the minimum info I am looking for. You do NOT need to submit a book. Please hide any animated gifs in a hider. Be sure to make a note of your stereotype - single mom, three time loser, etc.
Ultimately your powers are going to end up on par with the villains. That is the whole point of you being granted powers.
Plot
The initial plot is the group being gathered by the government. Next comes the Pitch. Then Power Bestowal. (It is not completely random. M will interview each person.) Next is training. Then some field work. Finally you go after the bad guys.
At least … that’s the plan … You know what they say about plans. Just think what will happen if the bad guys learn of your group before it is ready.
