Played by Ghost Shadow
"Scratch any cynic and you'll find a disappointed idealist."
<Name:/> Leonard Kenneth Monroe
<Nickname(s):/> Leon, Leo [Rarely Used]
<Gender:/> Male
<Age:/> 39
<Occupation:/> Private Investigator; Former Police Detective
<District:/> 8 [Originally D4 By Job Promotion]; Prefers to take Zone Beta cases. Born in District 16
<Height:/> 6'0"
<Weight:/> 190lbs [Augmentations add extra weight]
<Appearance:/> 
<Clothing & Wardrobe:/><Personality:/>A cynical and jaded loner who has witnessed many atrocities over the course of his life, Leon hides his true feelings and beliefs behind a weathered suit of callousness and insensitivity, guarding himself as a means of defense.
Keeping most people at an arm's length and preferring an air of mystery, Leon is loath to share his thoughts or opinions with others. He has very few friends and prefers to keep it that way, trusting a scant amount of people with information about his personal or private life. He treats new people with anything from guarded aloofness to outright hostility depending on the individual in question. Because of this distant attitude, most who do not know Leon see him as sinister in appearance and demeanor. Despite this and his former profession as a police detective, Leon is not soulless and is capable of feeling both sympathy and guilt for his actions. He has a razor sharp wit, often remarking on events with sarcasm. He seems to use this sense of humor as a sort of defense mechanism, reserving it for himself or for close associates - usually as a way of deflection.
He is capable of forming friendships in spite of his open cynicism, but nevertheless maintains a certain amount of distance in order to protect himself from potential harm. However, he is incredibly loyal and devoted to the friends he has, and is, as such, deeply affected by acts of betrayal.
Described as consumnate professional at best and a workaholic at worst, Leon is solely devoted to his profession, spending much of his time and efforts either investigating cases or honing his own skills to further increase his effectiveness. To Leon, his work as a private detective has become his identity, he helps solve cases not because he thinks it will make a difference - but because it is the right thing to do. Leon will often pass up or decline cases if he believes them do be morally or ethically unclear. Consequentially, he will sometimes accept jobs without commission simply because the job intrigues him or offers him a new challenge.
He is fervently determined by nature, executing his decisions with clear intentions and following through with any choice he makes. He pursues his goals with a borderline-obsessive ferocity, and does not take obstacles lightly. However, he is human enough to realize that no goal is important enough to directly hurt others in order to achieve.
This determination is bested only by his resourcefulness and willpower. Labeled as a born survivor, Leon possesses renowned instincts and survival skills that have allowed him to survive up to this point. He is highly perceptive, and never fully lets his guard down, making him all the more dangerous.
Leon possesses something of a weakness for heroics underneath his worn surface. He goes to great, sometimes even dangerous lengths to protect the poor and downtrodden. He performs random, unexpected acts of kindness that belie his overall demeanor, and is especially sympathetic towards children and the struggling families of Zone Beta.
However, as a consequence of this more sympathetic nature, Leon can be particularly vindictive towards those who abuse or manipulate those in poverty. He has a short, oftentimes explosive temper that will manifest itself when he is pushed past the point of anger or extreme annoyance. During such times he becomes incredibly intimidating, and can only be calmed down by a friend or close one's voice of reason.
His desire to do right in the world has been broken time and time again, but still he pushes on, no longer caring if his actions will directly influence the world or not. To him, even so much as one person helped makes a difference, and he will hold onto it as long as he can.
<Augmentations:/>
- Cybernetic Arm: After a severe injury disabled the use of his right arm, surgeons had it replaced with a mechanical substitute from the shoulder down. Upon Leon's own request, the hand and wrist portion of the prosthetic possesses some degree of synthetic skin, allowing it to pass off as organic if the rest of the arm is covered. The augmented limb itself is constructed of advanced synthetic muscle fibers designed to move and contort exactly as a normal arm would. However, it possesses far greater strength, and can punch through metal and concrete, and crush bones with little effort. However, the prosthetic lacks durability, and can be rendered inoperable with enough damage. Similarly, in order to ensure the arm doesn't tear itself free from Leon's body, additional cyebrnetic reinforcements are placed near and around his shoulder, which includes several ribs.
- Nano-Active Blood: As part of an experimental government program, Leon was given a full-body blood-transfusion, with his original blood removed and placed in cryogenic storage. What now flows through his body is an artificially-created nanomachine-comprised substitute that is designed to improve the blood's natural oxygen and nutrition transportation efficiency. The nanomachines within the blood itself boost Leon's regenerative capabilities and resistances, making him highly resistant, if not immune to disease and toxins; breaking down alcohol inside his system, preventing intoxication, filtering water after ingestion, and granting Leon a slightly-enhanced healing factor, allowing him to heal, in days, what would take other individuals weeks. It is unknown what the exact limit of this healing factor is, but it is known that the nanomachines actively repair nicotine damage in the lungs, preventing Leon from indulging in smoking.
- Cybernetic Limb Actuator: Designed to enhance Leon's stamina and endurance, servos have been implanted in his joints, actuating each of his limbs [sans right arm] and increasing his limb strength and resilience. He can run faster, longer, and hit harder than the average person, though is by no means a superhuman.
- Cybernetic Pain Inhibitor: As the name implies, the pain inhibitor is a small implant placed at the base of the neck. The implant does not remove the sensation of pain, but simply removes the lingering effects of it, while providing enough suppression to allow Leon to function regularly when injured. However, the pain inhibitor is incapable of treating injuries, and medical care will still be required to fully treat injuries.
- Cybernetic Brain Augmenter: The final, and most experimental of Leon's augmentations, the cybernetic brain augmenter is designed to heighten his memory, thought processing, and and mental organization. It's installation grants Leon an eidetic memory, perfect sensory recollection, increased tactical efficiency and reaction time, and the ability to process information at an execrated speed. However, its continued presence causes chronic debilitating migraines, blurry, sometimes distorted vision, increased paranoia and agitation, and the early onset of mental illness. [USER: Leonard Monroe makes mention of audio-visual hallucinations following implant installation. AUTHENTICITY UNKNOWN]
<Skills & Abilities:/>An experienced policeman and detective, Leon has an impressive set of skills that allow him to survive in even the harshest parts of Zone Beta. The most apparent of these skills is his combat prowess. A talented marksman, Leon is capable of making accurate shots from over fifty yards with a handgun, and rarely misses his intended target. He shows a certain amount of versatility with a wide-range of firearms, and can effectively wield most any gun he gets his hands on.
Similarly skilled in unarmed combat, Leon uses his natural resourcefulness and cunning when fighting, and will regularly use his environment around him as a means ot incapacitating or killing foes. He seems to prefer various kicks and grapples in battle, and is not above using dirty tactics as a means to win a melee.
Working as both a detective and a private investigator for the better part of his life, Leon has a quick, deductive mind and a natural cunning that makes him very good at what he does. He can scan an environment and quickly pick out details or odd particulars to help gain insight onto a clue. Likewise, he is very good at reading people's face and body language to determine if someone is lying - or if they pose a threat to him.
As a direct result of his time in Zone Beta, Leon has various connections into the seedier parts of New Ancora, and has collaborated with information brokers before to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the City's goings on.
Lastly, perhaps Leon's most prominent talent is his mechanical aptitude. Deft with his hands and surprisingly intelligent, Leon is capable of repairing and maintaining all varieties of technology, ranging from rudimentary household appliances to cybernetic limbs and robotic platforms. Tinkering is a hobby of his, and he can be found occasionally taking items apart only to put them back together simply to pass the time.
<Biography:/>Leonard Kenneth Monroe was born to parents Calvin and Cynthia in an indiscriminate part of District 16. Growing up, Leon experienced varying amounts of financial need; ranging from only eating one-to-two meals a day to digging through dumpsters in search of something edible. His father, an embittered yet supportive man held work as a laborer and welder, but faced crippling alcoholism that drained their funds and threatened his job security. Though never physically abusive, and indeed doing his best to provide for his family, Calvin's weak will and continuing addiction drove a wedge between himself and his wife.
Leon didn't know his father well, and was instead fed oftentimes spiteful information from his mother. While loving in her own way, Cynthia's disdain of her own husband distracted her from the needs of her son, who soon closed himself off and grew more independent.
One particular incident that Leon recalled was his severely-inebriated father with a shotgun barrel in his mouth, begging his son to pull the trigger for him -- a request that Leon regrets not fulfilling to this day.
Growing up in Zone Beta, Leon saw firsthand the struggles of the common people, struggles that those in Zone Alpha were either unaware of...or simply didn't care. From that point on, he made a promise to himself that he wouldn't waste the life he was given...and would use it to help those in need.
He applied himself to his studies, and while not the most academically gifted student, showed a tenacity and drive that made him stand out in his own right. He displayed a particular amount of aptitude in the subjects of literature and religious education, and showed natural talent at amateur boxing and gymnastics.
During his years at school, Leon's father attempted to curb his drinking habit and turn his life around...but, lacking the willpower and strength to succeed, ended up relapsing, drinking himself into a comatose state while alone outside a bar. Calvin Monroe's stiff corpse was found the next morning by police officers, his death attributed to alcohol poisoning caused by the sudden binge-drinking.
Though devastated and disheartened, Leon didn't let the tragedy hold him back, and continued to push himself up until graduation, where he promptly entered the NAPD Academy to become a police officer.
His time at the academy was relatively normal. He showed great promise as an officer, and graduated within a year as a registered policeman.
During this time, Leon's mother began to show signs of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. While such a plight was easily treatable in the clinics of Zone Alpha, treatment options in Beta were far more sparse and expensive. Using whatever money he had left to try and pay for his mother's treatments, Leon soon fell into debt before even reaching 20 years old.
Forced to live in a sparse, two-room shack in the slums of 16 without so much as a whole bed to sleep on, Leon struggled desperately for weeks to stay on top of his various expenses...and was soon approached with an opportunity.
It was late evening on a Friday when he received a visitor: a man in a crisp, clean suit that no one could
possibly afford in Beta. The man gave Leon a very special opportunity: 100 candidates were randomly chosen from a pool of federal employees, and would each undergo experimental invasive augmentation. Leon was initially wary at the proposal, but was assured the augmentations would be completely internal, and he would be paid a remarkably high monetary reward for his participation.
Finally agreeing to the terms, Leon was sent to Zone Alpha less than a week later, experiencing for the first time in his life the glory and beauty that the other side of Zone Alpha had to offer him. Sent to one of the finest hospitals in D3, Leon was soon prepped for surgery, and put under in the early morning hours.
His body drained completely of blood, Leon was rather extensively altered, with servos and actuators implanted in his joints, a pain inhibitor device attached to his cervical spine nerves, and a brain augmenter very dangerously implanted in his cerebrum. His body was completely refilled with an artificial blood substitute, while his original blood was frozen and put in storage for the present time.
Leon spent the next few days after surgery recovering, very quickly discovering that something was...different. On the outside nothing had changed, it seemed. But he felt so strange, so...artificial. Yet rejuvenated,
strong.
Sent back to Zone Beta shortly recovering, Leon saw his own performance increasing exponentially. He was faster, more agile, better coordinated, healthier. His career bolstered as a result, and he regularly received transfers to higher and higher districts, eventually making it to Zone Alpha - as a permanent resident.
Having his mother moved to a better hospital, Leon was officially promoted to police detective, excelling in the position and earning a well-deserved name for himself. His transfers eventually landed him in District 4, where he remained stationed for some time; regularly taking cases in Zone Beta. During this time he entered a secret relationship with a female coworker, and not long thereafter lost his arm in a work-related accident [DETAILS REMOVED PER NEW ANCORA REGULATIONS].
Undisclosed events less than a year after led to Leon quitting the force in its entirety, becoming a self-employed private detective instead. He left his home life in District 4 and moved to District 8, hoping to make himself anew, though he still carries the heavy burdens of his past on his back.
<Other:/>
- Voice Sample
- Leon appears to be incredibly paranoid of most robots and artificial intelligence, though he never explains why. This trait appears to simply be a personality flaw as opposed to a trauma-induced fear.
- Religiously, Leon identifies as Agnostic Theist.
- Amusingly, Leon appears to be something of a big eater, regularly consuming meals that are labeled as "junk" or "unhealthy." However, this increased appetite is due to the excessive energy requirements of his various augmentations.
- Due in part to his traumatic past and the circumstances regarding his augmentation, Leon is a functioning alcoholic. However, the nanomachines in his bloodstream prevent him from becoming intoxicated, thus forbidding him from self-destructing. At one point he implies to have had a nicotine addiction as well, though appears to have curbed the habit at this time.
- While not asexual and somewhat flirtatious when in a good mood, Leon is generally fearful of romantic interaction or relationships, and is mistrustful of anyone attempting to get close to him unless they earn his confidence.
- Leon is especially hesitant regarding children, though shows apparent skill at interacting with them. Where this fearfulness comes from is uncertain.
