Name: Jessica Beadle
Alias: Lightning Bug
Appearance: Jessie can often be seen wearing various colors and patterns of checkered or plaid buttoned shirts, though they are often unbuttoned or the corners are tied in front of her to reveal the white shirt she wears underneath. She usually wears boys jeans, as they have pockets both deeper and more numerous than girls jeans. Jessie does still wear the same boots she wears in her costumed form however, as she thinks they're generic enough that she won't be recognized.
Age:22
Gender: Female
Hometown: Bell Reach
Biography: Jessica Beadle grew up in the lap of luxury. Her father Girard was an accomplished geneticist, and had been involved with several major breakthroughs regarding gene therapy, landing him a cushy job that enabled him to give his wife and daughter anything they wanted. However, all good things must come to an end, as they say. In his spare time, Girard Beadle was a bit of a historian, and had become fascinated by the stories of incredible people from the past with the ability to go beyond the limits of mere humanity. He eventually became so fascinated by these accounts, that he let his fascination bleed into his work, going outside of his job permissions and even taking unauthorized samples of people he suspected to harbor 'augmented DNA' in order to find out more information. He was discovered quickly, and was blacklisted from the scientific community in scandal and disgrace. Overnight, Jessie's world turned upside-down, from Princess to the Pauper.
In the following years, Jessie's parents continued to care for her as best they could. With what money Girard had saved up before his disgrace, they made sure Jessie was able to get a good education, that there was always food on the table, and a roof to sleep under. Even if Jessie got mocked for being 'poor little rich girl', ate microwaved macaroni most nights, and the roof leaked when it got too windy. Jessie never forgot the early days of her childhood, living in a nice home with good food and the very best schooling to keep her bright mind occupied. Her very best dreams at night revolved around those memories, and her worst nightmares were waking up and remembering they were only memories.
Until one day, things began to change for Jessica Beadle. Walking home from school one day, the senior got caught in a thunderstorm. Always one to pay too little attention to her surrounding, Jessie ran across the street without looking, the sharp lights and blaring horn catching her by surprise. In what should have been a moment of agony, instinct took over, and a whole new world opened up to Jessie...
Suddenly standing on the opposite curb, staring wide-eyed at the shocked driver who
should have hit her, with a strange electric tingle running through her, Jessie's mind could only come up with a single, lame thought.
"Wow, that was almost really bad. I should call mom."And the phone in her pocket began to dial.
Personality: Jessie is obsessed with her powers. Knowing of her father's interest in people like her, and that that interest ultimately led to her losing the life she loved, Jessie is determined to show the world that superpowered people not only exist (An undeniable fact these days), but absolutely deserve a place of recognition in the world. Jessie appreciates the sacrifices her parents have made for her, and intends to use her abilities to help give them an easier life. However, due to listening to her fathers hero worship about the 'Heroes of Old', she has a bit of a twisted sense of what is acceptable for people with powers. The idea that all of the Old Supers were Heroes who Could Do No Wrong and were Better Than The Average Man has settled nicely into her head, and she considers herself among those big names now. This leads to a sense of entitlement and some selfishness, though it is usually justified in her mind with some kind of noble motive.
Skillset: Jessie has dual degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, and is currently going through online classes for game development. She has a natural knack for mechanical engineering, which is boosted by her powers, and is the greatest Internet Wizard the world has ever seen. (Self-proclaimed)
Powers:
--Electrokinesis: Lightning Bug's body constantly creates a high-powered static field. She is able to manipulate this power to manifest purple bolts of electrical energy from her hands, firing them at a range of about 15 feet or using them up close and personal. She is able to control the level of shock, from as small enough to simply charge a device such as an iPod up to being able to short out someone's heart. She is also able to manipulate electricity in the environment around her, though to a lesser degree of control.
--Short Range Teleportation: Lightning Bug has manifested an ability to instantly transport herself and any inanimate object she can hold to any spot within her line of sight. She disappears in a bright spark of purple energy and reappears in a similar manner at her chosen destination. Currently she is able to teleport about a dozen times before needing to pause and rest for a few hours.
--Technopathy: Lightning Bug is able to project her will onto computer systems and technology, making it simple for her to access things she shouldn't or bypass security systems. She is also able to simply tell a machine what to do with her mind, and it will follow her orders, assuming it has some kind of computer technology in it.
Tools and Equipment:
--Telescopic Goggles: The green goggles Lightning Bug wears have a built in telescoping system, allowing for her to more clearly see distant points she might be able to teleport to. These further jumps wear her out more quickly, but have provided a way out of a few tight situations. These goggles also have built in night vision and infrared sights.
--Hoverboard: Utilizing Ectoan technology, Jessie has built a working hoverboard that allows her to fly. It can carry her at upwards of 100 mph on the ground, with the upper limits of free-air flight as yet untested. The hoverboard contains a series of electromagnets that are tied to her boots, allowing for her to lock herself into place, as well as an emergency freefall failsafe, allowing the board to carry her safely to the ground in vase of dire emergencies.
Additional Information: Jessie is very interested in making contacts within the superhuman community, reasoning that the more she surrounds herself with people like her, the easier time she will have of life in general. Of course, she's not above making enemies either, and has been known to piss some people off with her less-than-stellar mental filter causing her to blurt out some ideals which may not line up with traditional Hero stuff.
