Difference between revisions of "Remedy"

But it had never seen a modern human. Or a domestic dog. Its one hundred thousand year old data banks had no point of reference, and it simply assumed that an evolutionary cul de sac had been reached and these two life forms were errors in need of correction and restructuring. When Grant and Remedy approached an emitter array, the human unknowingly triggering its automated response with constant camera flashes, the Kelvaran servitor responded with ancient sophistication and relentless power. In a wash of alien energies, the man and the dog were combined with Kelvaran living metal to form a strange hybrid creature, massive of build and possessed of an aggregate personality of both of its component beings.

But the living machine was not finished. It had been without direction for too long. And its malfunctioning sensors could no longer detect a Progenitor presence in this star system or anywhere in the local galactic group. Desperate for instructions, it poured its power into crafting a leader for itself. The being it had created began to grow and grow. With a roar the new composite being burst out of the tomb as the panicked scientists and native diggers fled for their lives. The giant finally reached a height of more than ten stories before its growth slowed due to a conscious exercise of the will; and the Progenitor facility was covered again in rubble, never to be seen again.

At first frightened by his changes, the being (now choosing to call itself Remedy after its beloved canine "component"), managed to think clearly enough to make his way to Millennium City, the one place where he would be guaranteed not to be seen as a freak of nature. Since then, Remedy has taken to the life of a crime fighter while attempting to make sense of his new state. Meanwhile, something in the back of his mind tells him he hasn't seen the last of the aliens that changed him.

In general shape and build, Remedy resembles a fusion of both humanoid and canine characteristics, specifically Siberian Husky traits mixed with Human. He stands upright with a plantigrade stance and possesses human-like hands with opposable thumbs. But his head more resembles a dog than a Human, with pointed ears able to swivel on command. He also possesses a tail and a coat of black and white fur.

Possessing a default height of approximately seven feet, his physiognomy diverges markedly from the Human norm. His arms and hands are over-sized and his general muscular shape is exaggerated, making his head appear too small for his body. His eyes, when visible, glow an unnatural cyan tint with no pupils or whites visible.

But what obviously sets him within the realm of the otherworldly is the layer of living metal armor and enhancement cables that encases many parts of his flesh. The technology represented by these "additions" (when analyzed by sufficiently sensitive instrumentality), clearly indicates Kelvaran manufacture. These devices appear to give off a strangle "sparkle" effect, particularly when Remedy enters combat.

NOTE: Remedy has been seen with a small storm system above his head. It's possible this is an indication that his abilities may be making him less and less human each day.

As one might expect from a being of composite origins, Remedy's personality is a blending of human and canine traits. Being a former freelance photographer, he shows a keen insight into art and the world around him. Meanwhile, the "dog part" comes out in boundless enthusiasm and easy affection for people. He tends to wear his heart on his sleeve as it were, and is very open about what he is feeling at any given moment.

While still saddened by the loss of his Human wife, Remedy surprisingly shows very little of this morose side of himself. Instead, he is always eager to help the helpless and show kindness to complete strangers, from homeless derelicts to successful businesspersons. He is also ferocious in combat, which affects the manifestations of his power set (see Powers section).

As an example of this hodgepodge nature, it is not uncommon for Remedy to pant and drool like a dog while shaking hands with someone. Or to alternately yip and laugh when in a happy mood.

Though clearly possessing enhanced strength and stamina, Remedy's primary ability centers around size-shifting, i.e. the ability to alter his volume and mass at will. Due to the presence of Progenitor super-science grafted to his biology, his size alterations seem to be related to hyperspatial plasticity and subatomic forces as yet not wholly understood or fully documented. He has been seen to be as small as two feet tall and as large as ten stories. As his size alters, corresponding changes in his strength occur: essentially, the larger he gets the stronger he becomes.

His size is heavily influenced by his emotional state: anger, intense curiosity and physically pleasing sensations tend to make him grow; while calm and even depressed states make him shrink. Curiously enough, combat or the threat of physical danger do not seem to affect his size at all; embarrassing or socially awkward situations make him shrink most easily. A complete psychological study would probably be needed in order to fully explore the extent of emotional influence on Remedy's powers.