Member
Crimson Flame
Xaltwind
Ivar
Vampiretwilight
Chronic
SleepyWrites
Izurich
Remram
Quartz
"Alright... Which one of you knuckleheads pissed off MCPD this time?"
Age: 26? He stopped counting years ago.
Appearance: If Felix looks like he hasn't slept in 24 hours, that's because he probably hasn't. A look behind his ever-present running goggles would reveal stress lines and dark circles from a distinct lack of sleep. Being in charge of one of the largest Sk8te cells in Megacity-01 ensures that he rarely - if ever - gets a moment to himself. His disheveled appearance is also a result of Felix putting the needs of his cell before his own. It genuinely annoys him whenever he hears people claiming he grew his hair out to be "fashionable" or "cool". He literally never has time to cut it. Felix has received several mods during his time in Sk8te. The major ones being ligament and joint reinforcements to increase his physical capabilities when it comes to running. He's also received the Skynet mod and an adrenaline implant in his spinal column.
Faction: Sk8te
Sk8te Cell Afterburn. One of the largest Sk8te cells on the rooftops, Afterburn boasts the fastest runners in the city. If Sk8te's M.O. is living life free from the system of the Megacity, Afterburn members - sometimes called Burners - live this to a T. Burners are rarely concerned with the day to day matters on the streets below them. At most, they interact with citizens when being hired for a courier job, or scattering when MCPD clears out their current safehouse. Because of their speed and efficiency, even some Heirs recognize that Afterburn may know the city better than just about anyone.
Burners typically don't recognize any form of authority within the Megacity. The only person they recognize is their cell boss. Said boss is responsible for keeping the cell in line and determines what types of work the cell takes on. The boss's word is the only law of the cell and rarely does it have any impact outside of Afterburn. Afterburn's cell boss is chosen by the former boss should he/she retire or is rendered no longer capable of running. Should the boss die before a new choice is made, it's up to a vote of the cell.
Background: Born on the Backstreets, Felix Ryker seemed destined for a hard life. His parents ran a back-alley Mod Clinic and barely made enough money to pay off the Demonio thugs protection racket. During his childhood, Felix would often gaze out across the rooftops and thought he could spot glimpses shadowy figures running across the buildings at night. His parents however would shake their heads every morning; saying he was imagining things. When he wasn't working in the clinic, Felix would try to imitate what he saw by running in the streets.
Things took a turn for Felix one night when an MCPD squad broke down the door of his family's apartment. It seemed his parents had broken the law and one of their frequent customers had succumbed to Program Stasis. Knowing they wouldn't survive the night, Felix's mother smashed a window and told him to run. Jumping out the window, Felix took to the rooftops. His years of practicing what he saw the from his bedroom window paid off and he managed to evade MCPD. The next morning, he was awakened by a finger standing over him, this was his first meeting with Dax Lawson aka "Firebird".
As it turned out, Firebird was the cell boss of Afterburn. Impressed by Felix's abilities, he brought the youth back to the safehouse and made him an official Sk8ter by ripping out his GEO-ID. Now off the grid, Firebird gave Felix his new name "Hotshot" in part to his red hair and his quick-footed nature. Felix naturally blossomed within his new home and learned the ins and outs of his home city like never before over the coming years. Gradually, a cocky side began to show itself as Felix quickly became of the the most notorious members in Afterburn, both for his speed and natural agility. Overtime, Hotshot began to turn into an insult among his cell mates.
The good years eventually came to an end for Felix. One evening, Firebird was approached by an anonymous party who wished for Afterburn to pull a smash-and-grab on a police convoy headed for the Spire. The pay was unlike anything the cell had seen for such a simple job. With no questions asked, Firebird had rounded up his best members - including Felix - and they descended on the truck. What they didn't expect was an armed squad on MCPD officers waiting inside! Despite securing the item, three Burners died, including Firebird.
With his last breath, Firebird announced to the survivors that Felix was to be his successor. At first, there was some dissention among Afterburn, but the words of the cell boss were absolute. Felix assumed his position and over time, his cocky attitude was replaced by cynicism as he began dealing with the duties of leading his cell.
Cybernetics:
- Skynet Implant: A black market mod designed as a neural implant. Enables the user to view a map of the Megacity and display Sk8te routes and territories. Users can also scan walls and objects to check for Holotag Graffiti. Typically indicating a user's digital signature or warning of danger.
- Matsuda Limb System: A series of endoskeleton implants designed to increase the density of the human body. Enhances the user's physical strength and agility, as well as his/her ability to take hits.
- Adrenal Implant: An Adrenaline infuser grafted into the user's spine. Injects an adrenaline shot to provide a quick burst of energy in dire situations.
Weapons/Tools:
- Mak0 Rip Current: One of the five weapons in Megacity-01 that's confirmed to be made by the legendary Pack member Mak0. A powerful handgun that fires electrically charged rounds. Cripples and deactivates cybernetics. Felix acquired this gun during the botched job that cost Firebird his life.
- Grapple Gloves: A pair of gloves with spools of high density wire. Felix can fire the gloves and latch onto the sides of buildings in order to quickly ascend from the streets or swing between buildings while running. The tips of the grapples are diamond coated, penetrating even the most stubborn surfaces. Also they're good for striking.
- Runner Specs: Specialized goggles that most Sk8ters carry. Can directly interface with the Skynet mod and display routes on the user's vision in real-time.
Likes:
- Running through Neosky
- Jigen's Spicy Noodle Bowl
- Sleeping
- Maintaining his Gear
Dislikes:
- Disobedient Burners
- Excessive Noise (Typically on the Streets)
- MCPD Raids
- Moving the Safehouse
Quirks:
- Felix actually has a surprising amount of connections within the Megacity-01 Underworld. He has contacts within The Pack and Black Maria which he tries to exploit and keep his cell off MCPD's radar.
- The Mak0 Rip Current was actually the item that Afterburn was sent to retrieve on the botched raid. Felix never delivered the item and was informed of its status after the fact.
- Despite his cynicism in recent years, Felix actually comes alive when he's free to do things as he pleases rather than babysit his 'denser' cellmates. He genuinely believes coming to the rooftops was the best choice he could have made.
Places of Interest:
- Metro Transit Hub: A massive building in the center of Metro Street where all forms of public transportation meet and disperse to the various corners of the city. Subways, Busses, and even the city Monorail all make use of the Hub. Given its large size, there's quite a lot of space that goes unused and no one has noticed the Sk8ters slipping in and out over the years. The transit hub acts as Afterburn's main safehouse.
- Jigen's Noodles: A noodle stand tucked away in the backstreets. Selling a variety of cheap meals ranging from ramen to congee, Jigen's doesn't care who their clientele is. If you have the credits, you can claim a stool. Felix asserts the Spicy Ramen Bowl is the best item on the menu.
- The Blue Door: Shortly after acquiring the "weird gun" as he called it, Felix got a strange message over his Skynet implant telling him to find a specific door in the city. Now, Felix makes regular visits to restock his ammunition supply and - if he can pay for it - the figure beyond the door acts as his info broker.
