PWNSHG:Speed Trap
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Vital Stats
Code Name: Speed Trap
Real Name: Paul Horton
Sex: Male
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 160 lb.
Age: 18
Citizenship: United States of America
Legal Status: Criminal record in the United States
Birthplace: Macon, Tennesee
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: father (name unrevealed), Jane Cash (mother), Robert Cash (stepfather), Elizabeth and Virginia Cash (twin half-sisters)
Other Occupation: Musician, Drifter.
Quote: "I lose more guitars that way."
Background/History:
Paul was born in a trailer park in Macon, Tennessee. His mother was 17 years old at the time, shacking up with her boyfriend after having been kicked out by her parents. Paul's father skipped town just three weeks after his birth, and to this day Paul knows little about him. Paul's mother once said his father was in the Army, but she was drunk at the time. In any case, Paul never really cared to learn who his father was.
Paul considered his life pretty normal until around his 14th birthday. About that time his mother began dating Robert Cash, a man ten years her senior. Robert helped Jane deal with her drinking problem - they even planned to be married. However, his mother's new devotion to Robert left Paul feeling abandoned and ignored. Paul began to "act out." Unfortunately for the community of Macon, it was at this time that Paul's powers began to manifest.
Paul began a three-month spree of high-speed vandalism. No one was ever hurt, but Paul spent a lot of time in the back of the sheriff's cruiser. And each time the sheriff brought him home, the arguments between he and Robert escalated. Their conflict came to a boil shortly after Robert and his mother's wedding, and three days before Paul's 15th birthday. Paul's mother announced to Paul that she was pregnant, and Paul's feelings of resentment triggered another one of his sprees. When the cops brought him home, Robert decided to put his foot down. He decided to try some "old-fashioned" discipline.
Though Robert couldn't actually hurt Paul, his attempts were enough to drive Paul over the edge. He slammed his stepfather against the wall hard enough to crack his ribs and knock him unconscious. Paul then fled, and when he finally came home the law was waiting for him. Robert chose to press charges, and Paul was taken into custody to await trial. The trial itself went rather quickly. Despite his emotionally charged state, the jury decided that Paul had demonstrated enough control over his powers to stop his stepfather without harming him. He was convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (namely, his powers), and sentenced to three-to- six years in a state juvenile holding facility.
Paul was a model prisoner. He spent his time reading and keeping up with his studies, allowing him to earn his GED before his 18th birthday. His mother visited him regularly, often bringing his newborn twin-sisters with her. On one of her visits she gave him a harmonica, which sparked Paul's interest in music. It was also during his jail time that Paul first enjoyed the media spotlight - his story was covered in a Time Magazine special issue on "The State of Future," which focused on America's youth. When it came time for his first parole hearing, both his mother and stepfather argued for his release. Paul didn't stay with his family for long after his release - the relationship between he and his stepfather was still too strained.
Paul left to travel east, intending to pursue a music career. He's been sidetracked a number of times along the way, using his powers to stop crimes and save lives. The media spotlight has followed him, too - his good looks, sharp wit, protectiveness of children and "pull yourself up by the bootstraps"-story make him the classic underdog. As such, he has a disproportionately large reputation, and Paul enjoys the attention
Personality/Motivation:
It’s said that prison changes a man. Paul missed out on three years of normal teenage emotional development while he was in prison. His social development also been altered: for the last three years, his only personal contact has been with adults and figures of authority. As such, he tends to be a little more immature than other people his age, and falls into the role of the “naïve inexperienced kid” in peer groups out of habit.
During his three year stint in prison, Paul was also diagnosed with mild bipolar disorder. Through careful management of his diet, exercise, and sleeping habits, the prison authorities were able to keep his behavior relatively stable. However, unknown to prison medical staff, these measures were merely treating the symptoms, not the root of Paul’s problem. What no-one suspected or understood is that Paul’s mood fluctuates in direct proportion to the amount of kinetic energy he absorbs/manipulates. When Paul is fully charged with kinetic energy, he enters a manic state. This is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, increased appetite, marked talkativeness, and poor impulse control. When Paul is prevented or abstains from absorbing/manipulating kinetic energy, Paul enters into a depressed state. This is characterized by lowered self-esteem, increased need for sleep, lack of appetite, diminished interest in activities, and indecisiveness. In the course of his day-to-day existence, he’s learned to self-regulate his mood by using his powers surreptitiously. However, if he’s forced to overuse or is kept from using his powers, his behavior becomes more and more erratic.
Paul also has the self-esteem issues typical to teenagers. He is very insecure about his lower-class upbringing: redneck and trailer-park jokes really get under his skin. His inferiority complex also extends to his heroic endeavors: beyond his metahuman abilities, Paul doesn’t feel he has much to offer the world. Having powers and being a hero is all he has. As such, Paul tends to overcompensate when people disparage his powers. He’s always trying to prove that his meta-talents put him equal footing with other heroes (specifically speedsters). He also tries very hard to live up the public’s perceptions as to what a hero should be.
Powers/Tactics:
Paul's powers, while well-studied, are still only vaguely understood. What is known is that Paul has the ability to generate a skin-tight energy field which drains and stores kinetic energy. Paul can then consciously expend this stored energy to manipluate the momentum and velocity of anything enveloped by this field (including himself). The field itself is semi-visible when active, and appears to "displace" light waves across its surface. This effect is incredibly pronounced when Paul is in motion, creating a severe "motion-blurring" effect. This has been attributed to unexplained relativistic phenomena relating to the interaction of his energy field and photons.
Momentum Manipulation:
Momentum is the product of the mass and velocity of an object. Kinetic force is equal to the change in momentum with respect to time. Paul's ability to alter momentum seems to ignore the limitations of both mass and time, allowing him to pull off an number of incredible feats:
- Momentum Absorption: Paul subconsciously and automatically drains the momentum of any object of significant mass or velocity entering his kinetic field. This effect is instantaneous, depriving all physical attacks against him of any force and thus protecting him from harm.
- Kinetic Battery: Momentum drained in this manner is stored within Paul's kinetic field. The transfer rate of Paul's field appears to be 100% efficient up to a limit of approximately four megajoules in a single transfer, equivalent to the explosive force of four tons of TNT. The field's maximum storage capacity appears to be near 250 megajoules of kinetic energy, rivaling a low-yield tactical nuclear weapon. While charged, Paul's field emits a golden glow which increases in parallel to the level of energy stored in the field, maxing out at approximately 300 lumens when at full capacity. The kinetic "charge" stored in Paul's field does not decay naturally, forcing Paul to consciously expend it (see examples below). Paul has described the sensation of carrying a charge as similar to the effects of a strong stimluant: Increased heart rate, alertness, wakefulness, and mild euphoria. Carrying a charge for extended periods seems to induce headaches, anxiety, and tremors.
- Charged Strike: Paul can expend the engery stored in his kinetic field, using it imbue parts of his body with increased momentum and causing his strikes to land with incredible force. Usually, he uses this ability on his fists or feet, but he’s not above attempting a charged head-butt if the opportunity arises.
Velocity Manipulation:
Velocity is vector defined by speed and direction. Paul can consciously alter both these properties of any object in his kinetic field, including himself. Applications of this ability include:
- Speed Boost: Paul can utilize his field's stored kinetic energy to boost his running speed to in excess of 400 mph.
- Boosted Leap: Similarly, Paul can expend stored kinetic energy to imbue his body with velocity in an upward trajectory, launching himself into the air. Unfortunately, Paul has a tendency to leap before he looks. Paul uses this ability to surprise fliers that think themselves safely out of his reach.
- Projectile Reflection: Paul can alter the direction of projectiles entering his kinetic field, allowing him to reflect or redirect them towards other targets. This ability appears to limited to physical projectiles; Paul has yet to demonstrate the level of control necessary to effect energy projectiles.
Beyond these techniques, Paul demonstrates a baseline speed beyond normal human limits; likely due to kinetic energy absorbed through incidental daily contact.
