APP > Info | Holloways
Name: Red
Age: 24
Journal: redfirelight
Contact: AIM @ thisismyomnitool
1. Character's Name: Aaron Harding
2. Age: 46
3. Background:
In a galaxy far, far away...
Humanity has branched out beyond the borders of its homeworld. Colonies and space stations dominate the galaxy, with humanity taking every advantage they can of the various habitable worlds. Government is centralized on the homeworld, still, but for the most part, humanity has stretched out to settle everything in reach. It's been able to do so because of the appearance of a sub-race of people with supernatural abilities. These abilities range from the typical telekinesis, telepathy and empathy, to more complex and bizarre powers, such as control over an element, or healing others.
Each of these "Powerful", as they're called collectively, are assigned a mundane partner that functions as a bodyguard and a handler. In fact, they're actually called handlers. Each pair is contracted out by either security firms, the military, or various companies to help facilitate the efforts of colonizing and maintaining new worlds, and most pairs tend to stay together for the majority of their lives --
-- if they're lucky. Because, while most companies, including the military, view the Powerful as employees, or general soldiers, and treat them as they would any other such individual, there are those companies that see them as nothing more than a resource to be exploited. Handlers contracted by those particular companies tend to run through their partners quickly, and Powerful are implanted with control devices to make them far more tractable, far easier to be used until they die. Generally, though, the partners are quick to become close friends, if not more than that, over the course of their time together. Sexual relationships and romances are extremely common, even normal, where Powerful and their handlers are concerned.
On most colonies, the Powerful are seen as benefits, as people worth admiration and respect, due to the fact that most colonies lack the technology to maintain themselves after their immediate funding runs dry, and they have yet to start turning a profit. The Powerful supply them with labor, with resources they couldn't otherwise get on their own -- and their handlers often join in the efforts, protecting not only their charges, but the general populace as well. On more self-sufficient and "advanced" worlds, the Powerful are seen as more curiosities and "freaks" than they are helpful.
Harding never set out to become a handler. Born and raised on a space station doubling as a military outpost, he signed on with the military as soon as he was able. Over time, he became his division's top combat and weapons specialist, often training new recruits, and helping to design new weaponry to better protect the colonies from local wildlife and mercenary / pirate gangs. After making captain of his unit, he applied for the special implant trials, in order to better serve his people, and was rewarded by being chosen. It seemed that he was in it for the long haul, showing no signs of planning for retirement or transfer. There really wasn't a reason for him to.
It was only after a long, drawn-out conflict involving a group of mercenaries and a passenger shuttle that Harding was forced to think about these things. His hip was irreversibly damaged, along with his eye, and even after healers and doctors alike worked on him, he failed to regain full mobility in his leg, or full sight in his eye. Yet, he still wished to serve, in some respect. His superiors recommended him for a position as a handler, and, shortly thereafter, he was given the specialized training necessary for the position.
Once he'd completed his training, he was shipped off to another space station, and partnered with a medic -- a healer called Matthew Stevenson. They got along well enough, as Harding was determined to do his job, and do it well, regardless of the fact that he was suddenly sharing space with a relative stranger. Unfortunately, Harding had been paired with a man who was more interested his own needs than in doing his job. Stevenson was selfish, and knew how to get what he wanted out of people, Harding included. Stevenson could see how dedicated Harding was, and how much he followed orders and guidelines -- and he couldn't very well have that, if he wanted to continue doing his own thing. He manipulated Harding into falling for him, to the point which Harding would go above and beyond the call of duty for Stevenson. Harding believed he was cared about, even loved by his charge, and that they were, actually a real partnership in every sense of the word...
Until he was cast aside in favor of a young, attractive newcomer to the station. Harding literally walked in on the two of them one day, before quickly walking back out again. When he confronted his partner, Stevenson went to the company holding their contract, complaining that Harding was abusive, and unfairly restrictive. No charges were brought, as there was nothing to support the accusation. They remained partners, Harding keeping Stevenson at a very strained distance, even moving out of their shared quarters, despite the healer's attempts to crawl back into his good graces. This continued until local authorities caught Stevenson hoarding drugs from the medical bay. He was arrested, and Harding was alone for a year or two before being placed with a new partner.
He was placed with another healer, Cole Reyes, whose previous handler had died of a degenerative illness about the same time as Stevenson had been taken into custody. Reyes was vastly different than Stevenson -- devoted to his calling, diligent, loyal to his partner, interested in the local ecosystem, and just a little bit scatterbrained. He made offers of friendship, tried casual conversation, and did a lot of things simply to become friends with his new handler. He never tried anything overtly romantic, or otherwise indicating he wanted to be more than that. After a month or so of acclimating to one another, the pair was shipped to the desert planet of Koussi, contracted out by the fuel supply company of Enactra, settling in the small town of Sahel, on the edge of an oasis.
There they stayed for a few years, as Harding gradually warmed to Reyes, and they grew closer. He soon became as incredibly devoted to his partner as he had been before, if not a little attracted. It was at this time that word began to reach the planet of a serious issue. Enactra, their company, was in danger of being purchased by a rival fuel supplier -- Dryson Limited. Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue, save for the fact that Dryson was one of those delightful corporations which viewed the Powerful as nothing more than resources to use up. Harding couldn't bear to lose another partner, even if his first had been on understandable terms, and so, in secret, he began to make plans to take Reyes away, breaking their contract, and going into hiding -- something utterly unheard of amongst most of the ranks of handlers.
4. Personality:
Harding is the strong silent type. He doesn't speak much, and when he does, he prefers to get to the point, rather than dance around the issue. Unless, of course, he's trying to talk about something that makes him decidedly uncomfortable. Then he's much more likely to ramble, or talk in circles. It's hard for him to express what he wants to through speech -- he's much more action-oriented than he is verbal. Not to say that he's unintelligent, he just isn't the most talkative sort of man.
He takes his duties seriously. Loyalty and duty are very important to him. He would die in the line of duty, protecting his people or his partner, and be completely content with that. He was raised following orders, believing doing so was the right thing to do, and that hasn't changed. He looks down on those that would cause chaos, break laws, or otherwise make life miserable for people. After all, they're the kind of people he spent his life protecting others from. Despite being transferred, he is still very much a soldier, willing to fight and do whatever it is he has to in order to protect his charges, or take down an enemy.
He's generally calm, if not cranky most of the time. But if his buttons are pushed correctly, his temper can, and often does, flare up in a fit of shouting and threats of violence. Despite the threats, he typically only acts on them if necessary. If he has to get physical, he aims to put the offender down as quickly as possible, to try and minimize physical harm. He's trying to teach them a lesson, not kill them. In combat, however, things are very different. He shows his enemies no mercy until they are either dead, or in complete surrender. There's no other way to do the job, in his opinion.
After Stevenson's betrayal, he became much more closed-off. He doesn't open up to people quickly, and even when he does, he prefers to keep things to himself, feelings and past alike. Where he expected loyalty and companionship, he got badly burned. And it's partially due to a fear of that happening again that he's begun shutting people out, even as part of him truly wants that sort of closeness again. Unless absolutely necessary, he doesn't share details about himself, or his charge. He'll talk about the basics -- his position, his partner's abilities, but for the most part, prefers to keep his mouth shut. Letting people in can be dangerous, he's learned. Best they stay away. Reyes is probably the first since his ex-partner to come close to bridging this gap.
5. Previous Game Developments:
None.
6. Appearance:
Harding is built like a brick house. Or a linebacker, whichever you find more descriptive. He's somewhere around 6'3", and a couple hundred pounds of muscle, and cybernetics. Those are mostly limited to damage repair -- like a replacement hip, some ribs, and part of the right side of his face. He has short, dark hair, and blue eyes in a heavily-lined face. He also carries a lot of scars, minor and major, with the most noticeable ones being on said right side of his face, and a large, circular scar on his chest. The scar on his face is about the size of three fingers, starting at his chin, climbing up to his eyebrow, and then tapering off to the right. The blow damaged the eye on that side, and while it's been repaired by various healers, it remains less responsive than the other, with poorer vision, especially in low light. Tattooed across his knuckles, in black, is a phrase in a runic language he never found out the meaning of. There's another tattoo at the middle of his back -- a stylized handprint, also in black.
7. Abilities:
Harding lacks any and all supernatural powers. His skills all come from training, and from his own personal strength. He's big and strong, knows how to use a firearm or two, and, from all his long experience, knows a few things about military tactics. He's marginally stronger than the average human being, but not out of any special ability. He's just that big. While he prefers heavier weapons like assault rifles and things that go BOOM, Harding is perfectly comfortable using any number of guns. Although, after his facial injury, he's had to rely more and more on weapons that make use of a targeting sight, or other visual assistance. He's got good stamina, thanks to his military career as well.
Despite all his training, all his strength and stamina, his body is getting older faster than he'd like it to. He has joint pain almost chronically, especially in his hip, which has given him a limp after all these years.
He does, however, have an implant to boost his body's natural painkiller output, making it easier for him to temporarily shrug off injury. Triggered by high levels of adrenaline, it takes a lot out of him, especially in recent years, putting him out cold for a few hours after it's been used a good deal. For instance, if he were to be shot in an area that was not immediately fatal, his implant would kick in, and he would be able to keep fighting for as long as his adrenaline kept him on his feet. Once the fight ended, or he calmed himself down, he would probably pass right out where he stood, until he could sleep it off, or until the wound was taken care of.
In the Keep, the implant will have a shorter period of duration, lasting about an hour or so before it stops functioning for a 24 hour period, or until Harding gets a good bit of sleep.
8. Languages:
The common trade language.
9. Items:
-- Light body armor, similar to Kevlar, and colored black.
-- His implant.
-- Handler's jacket (tan, long-sleeved, with a red handprint badge on each arm, and his name and ID on the front breast)
-- Light, desert clothing.
-- ID card and credit chip
10. Weapons:
-- A simple pistol, albeit a futuristic laser-type pistol. It needs small energy clips to work, and typically fires 8-10 shots before it needs to be reloaded. In the Keep, instead of causing injury, the pistol will only stun for 15-20 minutes.
-- A hunting knife, with the edge blunted. It's about six inches long, riding in a sheath on his belt.
11. Writing sample - Third Person Prose:
Breaking a contract was a crime. It would be the first time Aaron Harding had ever done something out of line, ever broken the rules. But, at the same time, he reasoned, wasn't it his assignment, his sworn duty, to protect his partner at all costs?
How could he do anything else, with that in mind?
“Hey.”
He blinked, roused from his thoughts abruptly by a sudden, intrusive voice. Harding looked up, narrowing his good eye. The kid was standing at his table, his stance tense, hands loosely at his sides - a ready position. Just in case. Arrogant of him. Harding took his time responding, giving the kid a long stare, and taking another drink before he he did it.
“Hm?”
It was more of a grunt than it was a real answer, and it made the kid scowl.
“Are you Aaron Harding?” he asked, with a defiant little raise of his chin.
A nod. The kid looked like he was either expecting trouble, or he wanted to make it. Either way, Harding wasn't particularly concerned. Mover though the kid might be, it wasn't as if the big soldier had ever taken a heavy beating before. And from the way he was flexing his fingers, the kid relied on hand gestures to do any heavy work. Harding doubted he'd be anything like a problem, provided he could get the kid's hands pinned.
“I've been looking all over Sahel for you.”
Harding regarded him with a raised eyebrow. His silence was apparently grating on the kid, if the sudden tension in his shoulders was any judge. The handler took another drink, propping an elbow on the table. “You found me,” he said, the words low, growling. “Want me to say 'good job' or something?”
“No.”
The kid put his hands on the table, palms down, leaning in. Harding scowled, shifting back in his chair - more out of a desire for his own personal space than anything. He didn't like strangers getting so damn close. “Then beat it, kid,” he snapped, moving to stand up. “I don't want to play whatever it is you're playing.”
“I want your ship.”
Harding went rigid. “What?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost dangerously so.
12. Writing sample - First Person:
Going to make this short. Don't care how I got here, don't care who is responsible. I don't even care where I am.
What I care about is easy, simple. How do I get out again? And where have you taken the healer?
I am his handler. You have no right to move him without my knowledge or permission. Bring him back, and I'll be lenient with you. Keep him from me, and I will end you.
13. Tattoo:
Lower back. Tramp stamp much?
Age: 24
Journal: redfirelight
Contact: AIM @ thisismyomnitool
1. Character's Name: Aaron Harding
2. Age: 46
3. Background:
In a galaxy far, far away...
Humanity has branched out beyond the borders of its homeworld. Colonies and space stations dominate the galaxy, with humanity taking every advantage they can of the various habitable worlds. Government is centralized on the homeworld, still, but for the most part, humanity has stretched out to settle everything in reach. It's been able to do so because of the appearance of a sub-race of people with supernatural abilities. These abilities range from the typical telekinesis, telepathy and empathy, to more complex and bizarre powers, such as control over an element, or healing others.
Each of these "Powerful", as they're called collectively, are assigned a mundane partner that functions as a bodyguard and a handler. In fact, they're actually called handlers. Each pair is contracted out by either security firms, the military, or various companies to help facilitate the efforts of colonizing and maintaining new worlds, and most pairs tend to stay together for the majority of their lives --
-- if they're lucky. Because, while most companies, including the military, view the Powerful as employees, or general soldiers, and treat them as they would any other such individual, there are those companies that see them as nothing more than a resource to be exploited. Handlers contracted by those particular companies tend to run through their partners quickly, and Powerful are implanted with control devices to make them far more tractable, far easier to be used until they die. Generally, though, the partners are quick to become close friends, if not more than that, over the course of their time together. Sexual relationships and romances are extremely common, even normal, where Powerful and their handlers are concerned.
On most colonies, the Powerful are seen as benefits, as people worth admiration and respect, due to the fact that most colonies lack the technology to maintain themselves after their immediate funding runs dry, and they have yet to start turning a profit. The Powerful supply them with labor, with resources they couldn't otherwise get on their own -- and their handlers often join in the efforts, protecting not only their charges, but the general populace as well. On more self-sufficient and "advanced" worlds, the Powerful are seen as more curiosities and "freaks" than they are helpful.
Harding never set out to become a handler. Born and raised on a space station doubling as a military outpost, he signed on with the military as soon as he was able. Over time, he became his division's top combat and weapons specialist, often training new recruits, and helping to design new weaponry to better protect the colonies from local wildlife and mercenary / pirate gangs. After making captain of his unit, he applied for the special implant trials, in order to better serve his people, and was rewarded by being chosen. It seemed that he was in it for the long haul, showing no signs of planning for retirement or transfer. There really wasn't a reason for him to.
It was only after a long, drawn-out conflict involving a group of mercenaries and a passenger shuttle that Harding was forced to think about these things. His hip was irreversibly damaged, along with his eye, and even after healers and doctors alike worked on him, he failed to regain full mobility in his leg, or full sight in his eye. Yet, he still wished to serve, in some respect. His superiors recommended him for a position as a handler, and, shortly thereafter, he was given the specialized training necessary for the position.
Once he'd completed his training, he was shipped off to another space station, and partnered with a medic -- a healer called Matthew Stevenson. They got along well enough, as Harding was determined to do his job, and do it well, regardless of the fact that he was suddenly sharing space with a relative stranger. Unfortunately, Harding had been paired with a man who was more interested his own needs than in doing his job. Stevenson was selfish, and knew how to get what he wanted out of people, Harding included. Stevenson could see how dedicated Harding was, and how much he followed orders and guidelines -- and he couldn't very well have that, if he wanted to continue doing his own thing. He manipulated Harding into falling for him, to the point which Harding would go above and beyond the call of duty for Stevenson. Harding believed he was cared about, even loved by his charge, and that they were, actually a real partnership in every sense of the word...
Until he was cast aside in favor of a young, attractive newcomer to the station. Harding literally walked in on the two of them one day, before quickly walking back out again. When he confronted his partner, Stevenson went to the company holding their contract, complaining that Harding was abusive, and unfairly restrictive. No charges were brought, as there was nothing to support the accusation. They remained partners, Harding keeping Stevenson at a very strained distance, even moving out of their shared quarters, despite the healer's attempts to crawl back into his good graces. This continued until local authorities caught Stevenson hoarding drugs from the medical bay. He was arrested, and Harding was alone for a year or two before being placed with a new partner.
He was placed with another healer, Cole Reyes, whose previous handler had died of a degenerative illness about the same time as Stevenson had been taken into custody. Reyes was vastly different than Stevenson -- devoted to his calling, diligent, loyal to his partner, interested in the local ecosystem, and just a little bit scatterbrained. He made offers of friendship, tried casual conversation, and did a lot of things simply to become friends with his new handler. He never tried anything overtly romantic, or otherwise indicating he wanted to be more than that. After a month or so of acclimating to one another, the pair was shipped to the desert planet of Koussi, contracted out by the fuel supply company of Enactra, settling in the small town of Sahel, on the edge of an oasis.
There they stayed for a few years, as Harding gradually warmed to Reyes, and they grew closer. He soon became as incredibly devoted to his partner as he had been before, if not a little attracted. It was at this time that word began to reach the planet of a serious issue. Enactra, their company, was in danger of being purchased by a rival fuel supplier -- Dryson Limited. Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue, save for the fact that Dryson was one of those delightful corporations which viewed the Powerful as nothing more than resources to use up. Harding couldn't bear to lose another partner, even if his first had been on understandable terms, and so, in secret, he began to make plans to take Reyes away, breaking their contract, and going into hiding -- something utterly unheard of amongst most of the ranks of handlers.
4. Personality:
Harding is the strong silent type. He doesn't speak much, and when he does, he prefers to get to the point, rather than dance around the issue. Unless, of course, he's trying to talk about something that makes him decidedly uncomfortable. Then he's much more likely to ramble, or talk in circles. It's hard for him to express what he wants to through speech -- he's much more action-oriented than he is verbal. Not to say that he's unintelligent, he just isn't the most talkative sort of man.
He takes his duties seriously. Loyalty and duty are very important to him. He would die in the line of duty, protecting his people or his partner, and be completely content with that. He was raised following orders, believing doing so was the right thing to do, and that hasn't changed. He looks down on those that would cause chaos, break laws, or otherwise make life miserable for people. After all, they're the kind of people he spent his life protecting others from. Despite being transferred, he is still very much a soldier, willing to fight and do whatever it is he has to in order to protect his charges, or take down an enemy.
He's generally calm, if not cranky most of the time. But if his buttons are pushed correctly, his temper can, and often does, flare up in a fit of shouting and threats of violence. Despite the threats, he typically only acts on them if necessary. If he has to get physical, he aims to put the offender down as quickly as possible, to try and minimize physical harm. He's trying to teach them a lesson, not kill them. In combat, however, things are very different. He shows his enemies no mercy until they are either dead, or in complete surrender. There's no other way to do the job, in his opinion.
After Stevenson's betrayal, he became much more closed-off. He doesn't open up to people quickly, and even when he does, he prefers to keep things to himself, feelings and past alike. Where he expected loyalty and companionship, he got badly burned. And it's partially due to a fear of that happening again that he's begun shutting people out, even as part of him truly wants that sort of closeness again. Unless absolutely necessary, he doesn't share details about himself, or his charge. He'll talk about the basics -- his position, his partner's abilities, but for the most part, prefers to keep his mouth shut. Letting people in can be dangerous, he's learned. Best they stay away. Reyes is probably the first since his ex-partner to come close to bridging this gap.
5. Previous Game Developments:
None.
6. Appearance:
Harding is built like a brick house. Or a linebacker, whichever you find more descriptive. He's somewhere around 6'3", and a couple hundred pounds of muscle, and cybernetics. Those are mostly limited to damage repair -- like a replacement hip, some ribs, and part of the right side of his face. He has short, dark hair, and blue eyes in a heavily-lined face. He also carries a lot of scars, minor and major, with the most noticeable ones being on said right side of his face, and a large, circular scar on his chest. The scar on his face is about the size of three fingers, starting at his chin, climbing up to his eyebrow, and then tapering off to the right. The blow damaged the eye on that side, and while it's been repaired by various healers, it remains less responsive than the other, with poorer vision, especially in low light. Tattooed across his knuckles, in black, is a phrase in a runic language he never found out the meaning of. There's another tattoo at the middle of his back -- a stylized handprint, also in black.
7. Abilities:
Harding lacks any and all supernatural powers. His skills all come from training, and from his own personal strength. He's big and strong, knows how to use a firearm or two, and, from all his long experience, knows a few things about military tactics. He's marginally stronger than the average human being, but not out of any special ability. He's just that big. While he prefers heavier weapons like assault rifles and things that go BOOM, Harding is perfectly comfortable using any number of guns. Although, after his facial injury, he's had to rely more and more on weapons that make use of a targeting sight, or other visual assistance. He's got good stamina, thanks to his military career as well.
Despite all his training, all his strength and stamina, his body is getting older faster than he'd like it to. He has joint pain almost chronically, especially in his hip, which has given him a limp after all these years.
He does, however, have an implant to boost his body's natural painkiller output, making it easier for him to temporarily shrug off injury. Triggered by high levels of adrenaline, it takes a lot out of him, especially in recent years, putting him out cold for a few hours after it's been used a good deal. For instance, if he were to be shot in an area that was not immediately fatal, his implant would kick in, and he would be able to keep fighting for as long as his adrenaline kept him on his feet. Once the fight ended, or he calmed himself down, he would probably pass right out where he stood, until he could sleep it off, or until the wound was taken care of.
In the Keep, the implant will have a shorter period of duration, lasting about an hour or so before it stops functioning for a 24 hour period, or until Harding gets a good bit of sleep.
8. Languages:
The common trade language.
9. Items:
-- Light body armor, similar to Kevlar, and colored black.
-- His implant.
-- Handler's jacket (tan, long-sleeved, with a red handprint badge on each arm, and his name and ID on the front breast)
-- Light, desert clothing.
-- ID card and credit chip
10. Weapons:
-- A simple pistol, albeit a futuristic laser-type pistol. It needs small energy clips to work, and typically fires 8-10 shots before it needs to be reloaded. In the Keep, instead of causing injury, the pistol will only stun for 15-20 minutes.
-- A hunting knife, with the edge blunted. It's about six inches long, riding in a sheath on his belt.
11. Writing sample - Third Person Prose:
Breaking a contract was a crime. It would be the first time Aaron Harding had ever done something out of line, ever broken the rules. But, at the same time, he reasoned, wasn't it his assignment, his sworn duty, to protect his partner at all costs?
How could he do anything else, with that in mind?
“Hey.”
He blinked, roused from his thoughts abruptly by a sudden, intrusive voice. Harding looked up, narrowing his good eye. The kid was standing at his table, his stance tense, hands loosely at his sides - a ready position. Just in case. Arrogant of him. Harding took his time responding, giving the kid a long stare, and taking another drink before he he did it.
“Hm?”
It was more of a grunt than it was a real answer, and it made the kid scowl.
“Are you Aaron Harding?” he asked, with a defiant little raise of his chin.
A nod. The kid looked like he was either expecting trouble, or he wanted to make it. Either way, Harding wasn't particularly concerned. Mover though the kid might be, it wasn't as if the big soldier had ever taken a heavy beating before. And from the way he was flexing his fingers, the kid relied on hand gestures to do any heavy work. Harding doubted he'd be anything like a problem, provided he could get the kid's hands pinned.
“I've been looking all over Sahel for you.”
Harding regarded him with a raised eyebrow. His silence was apparently grating on the kid, if the sudden tension in his shoulders was any judge. The handler took another drink, propping an elbow on the table. “You found me,” he said, the words low, growling. “Want me to say 'good job' or something?”
“No.”
The kid put his hands on the table, palms down, leaning in. Harding scowled, shifting back in his chair - more out of a desire for his own personal space than anything. He didn't like strangers getting so damn close. “Then beat it, kid,” he snapped, moving to stand up. “I don't want to play whatever it is you're playing.”
“I want your ship.”
Harding went rigid. “What?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost dangerously so.
12. Writing sample - First Person:
Going to make this short. Don't care how I got here, don't care who is responsible. I don't even care where I am.
What I care about is easy, simple. How do I get out again? And where have you taken the healer?
I am his handler. You have no right to move him without my knowledge or permission. Bring him back, and I'll be lenient with you. Keep him from me, and I will end you.
13. Tattoo:
Lower back. Tramp stamp much?