Phase

Character Sheet

Background / History

Derek Crane was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to an unexceptional middle class family. He was a top student in school and something of an overachiever: football team, debate club, yearbook staff. He worked hard on everything he did, and nothing bothered him more than people who took shortcuts – cheating on exams, slacking off while others did the work, avoiding punishment due to family connections. He was no snitch, but it made him mad to see it happen.

After high school, he attended Wake Forest University, finishing with high honors and a fierce desire to go farther. During his studies, he had realized that law enforcement would give him both the challenges he was looking for and the opportunities to distinguish himself that he craved. He applied to and was accepted by the Virginia police academy. While at the academy he met a local woman, Susan Lawrence; the two had a serious relationship for some time, but Derek called it off when it became clear that Susan was not ready to handle the trials of being a cop's wife.

After graduating (again with honors), Derek served for several years with the Virginia State Police, advancing his career steadily. After a time, however, it was time for a change – somewhere with a little more action. He moved to Boston, and after a year got a post on the Boston PD. It was quite a change of climate, but the job was interesting. After a few years Derek passed the detectives' exam and was assigned to the narcotics unit, where he prospered, until November.

One cold night, he was in Jamaica Plain investigating a drug ring when he noticed a strange yet familiar figure, tailing him. He waited until no one else was around, then turned to confront the man. As he did, the figure raised a hand...and Derek was surrounded by a white glowing force that seemed to course through his body. There was a strange pulsing sensation, then a bright flash, and Derek lost consciousness.

When he awoke, he was in Lowell, over 20 miles away, in a small park, uninjured. The other man was not there, but the energy was; but now it was coming from him! A jogger was approaching, asking if he was okay. Derek raised a hand to warn him off, in case this energy was dangerous – and then the person disappeared, then reappeared 50 feet back, unharmed but very surprised. Derek jerked his hand back, not wanting to transport anyone else, and then vanished himself. He felt energy flowing through him again, and then he was back in the world, across the street from the park. He was a superhero, with the power to phase things in and out of the world with nothing but a gesture and a thought.

Afraid that his powers would hurt someone, Derek didn't come back to work for a week. Over the course of that week, the glow around him faded, as if the energy were settling into him. His powers became harder to activate (a good thing!) and easier to control; or perhaps he was just learning. Transporting someone or something was fairly easy; with effort, he could create a longer lasting effect (such as a “gate”). He also found that an object exposed to the “phasing energy” for a longer period of time seemed to retain it (much like he had retained it at first). He created a simple suit of “armor” (well, it looked like armor, though it was made of plastic) and charged it with phase energy that served to remove “gate” away incoming objects – making it useful armor, indeed.

His return to the world was low key; as a narcotics detective, Derek knew the advantages of surprise. He did not tell his superiors right away; he had a little plan in mind. A few phone calls and a phased-in tape recorder later, Derek had rounded up a circle of particularly corrupt narcotics cops. Derek's life as a cop was over (or so he figured), but he didn't care. He was a hero now.

Although his armor included face protection, Derek didn't try hard to conceal his identity, and before long he came to the attention of his superiors in the BPD. They were very happy (or so they said), but the writing was on the wall; the force was no place for a superhero. His “extended leave” was announced the following week. Soon after that, the superhero Phase made his debut, appearing out of nowhere to foil crimes (and capturing more than one supervillain in the process).

Since then he has been enjoying the fame the life of a superhero brings, while trying to keep his head about him as best he can.

Personality / Motivation

Derek was an intelligent and hard-working detective, and strives to bring the same level of dedication to his new vocation. Always ready with a quick smile and smart remark, he cultivates an air of casualness in all but the most serious situations. He is polite, though perhaps sometimes less than thoughtful. He takes great pleasure in being a superhero, and is obviously affected by the attention and praise he has been receiving.

Appearance

6’, medium build, fashionably disheveled. Well dressed, but with a casual air. As Phase, Derek wears a suit of simple black armor (looking more like SWAT gear than medieval plate) which sparkles and glows with phase energy.

Quote

“Go away--here, let me help you.”

Powers / Tactics

Phase has the ability to summon dimensional energy (or create dimensional rifts; he doesn't really know) that teleports himself or other items. This teleportation can also alter an object's frame of reference (bestowing or removing kinetic energy). Through practice, he has developed this power in several ways: teleporting small objects with high velocity toward foes; teleporting small objects into foes (the object is “repelled”, but the effect causes a severe shock to the target); teleporting a large quantity of dirt around a foe; etc. These tricks require a bit of focus; if Derek tries them too quickly, they have a tendency to fail.

Through extended summoning of his “phase energy”, Derek has imbued his costume with a gate field which, when activated, absorbs and dissipates energy (including kinetic energy from incoming projectiles). He can also use the energy in this costume to teleport himself more easily.

Phase approaches combat like a cop; careful and methodical, with an eye toward keeping civilians safe and bringing his opponents to justice. He is not averse to killing, but has far less need of it now.