Origin

Born in Detroit, Krysta was a frightening child. White as a sheet and eyes burning red, she was shunned before her life had truly begun. Despite that, her parents loved her. They cherished her above all else and in turn Krysta treasured her parents. They were the only ones who treated her as something more than a freak.

From the very beginning her eyes granted her the ability to see the talents of those around her; she could perceive everyone in their element, doing what they were best at. But when she looked in the mirror, she saw nothing but her own reflection.

She was talentless.

Jealousy festered within Krysta, a malicious envy that only grew stronger as time went by. During her teenage years these feelings induced an evolution in her sight.

She discovered she could steal the talents of others.

With this twisted ability she delighted in sampling the skills of her peers. She found a special kind of satisfaction in watching people fail at a task due to her influence. Krysta's life became effortless.
Every challenge was met with the fruits of someone else's labours, every opportunity snatched away from the talented.

But eventually she grew bored of regular people. Mundane talents had their uses, but true power belonged to the superheroes of the world. With her eyes, those powers were her's to take if she dared.

It felt like fate. Krysta was a parasite, leeching off the strong and capable. That was how she was made.
With theft etched into her DNA, what else could she be but a villain?

Accepting her place in the world, she inserted herself into the criminal underbelly of Millennium City. Without strength of her own, she needed to establish a network of allies. To do that, she had to gain infamy as a valuable criminal asset.
This desire for allies induced another evolution in her sight, allowing her to transfer stolen power to others, or strengthen their existing abilities.

This aspect to her abilities made her far more desirable than she cared for.
For months she was subject to multiple abductions, with gangs fighting to gain control of her power. She had become valuable, just as she desired. But that value was as a commodity, not as a villain.

The abductions concluded with the arrival of Ruin. He was a man with the ability to convert velocity into misfortune. A speeding bullet was enough to generate a fatal accident, so one shot from his rifle always spelled doom, hit or miss.

Ruin laid claim to Krysta as his partner in crime. He offered money, security and purpose. It was a chance to rise into the big leagues of villainy. Krysta embraced the opportunity, taking up the alias of Guide's Eye.

Initially the partnership worked like a well-oiled machine. Krysta could disable heroes with her sight and Ruin could finish them off with his rifle. But Ruin began to get bored. Krysta's ability made everything too easy. There was no challenge in hunting a powerless hero.

When the frustration became intolerable, Ruin ordered Krysta to stand down from his next hunt. But once the fight began, it was clear to Krysta that the hero would emerge victorious without her intervention. If Ruin was killed or captured, the life she had begun to build would fall apart. The only option then, was to save Ruin.

So she did.

As thanks for saving his life, Ruin gouged out Krysta's right eye, "If you're called Guide's Eye, why do you have two of them?" He didn't find fault with her judgement, but her defiance was something he couldn't leave unchecked. With this act of mutilation he believed Krysta's obedience had been secured. Better still, with only one eye she was less effective, making some hunts more difficult.

Ruin's lust for challenging hunts drove him to seek heroes that countered his powers. Barriers, Temporal Manipulation, Good Fortune; anything that required him to get creative.

He would engineer elaborate traps to secure kills and outright refused to use Krysta unless his plans were foiled. His failures were Krysta's responsibility to clean up. She had become little more than a cheat code for Ruin to use whenever he screwed up. During this time, Krysta obeyed Ruin's commands in furious silence.

One night, Ruin's trap for a hero possessing the ability to reflect projectiles failed, leading to an order for Krysta to disable the hero and execute them herself. She had been waiting for an opportunity like this ever since Ruin had taken her eye. A moment to get revenge and escape the life she had made for herself. When Krysta pulled the trigger, Ruin was surprised to find the bullet bounced off the hero and ripped through his own stomach.

That action won her the smallest amount of goodwill to earn her a place in a rehabilitation program, rather than a detention centre. Whether or not she truly wishes to change for the better however, remains to be seen.

Powers

• Window to the Soul - Krysta's eye allows her to perceive and understand the powers and talents of anyone she looks at.
  
• Talent Theft - Krysta can temporarily steal one power or talent she can see. The effect ends a few seconds after breaking line of sight.
  
• Talent Boost - Krysta can boost the power or talent of a target. This is extremely exhausting.
  
• Talent Fence - After stealing a power or talent, Krysta can transfer it to another target. She must maintain line of sight of both targets.
  

Weaknesses

• Human - She is an extremely fragile human.
  
• Reliance On Others - She is only as powerful as those around her. Without a viable source to steal from, she is effectively powerless.
  
• Theft Limits - She cannot steal something the source doesn't consider a talent or power. For example, she cannot steal the shape-shifting ability from a Roin'esh since that is an ingrained skill within their species, not a special talent or power. Some talents require a degree of physical fitness to be used properly, which Krysta severely lacks. People with multiple powers/talents can only have one stolen at a time.
• Telepathic Attack - Her mind is unguarded.
  
• Obvious Blind Spot - She only has one eye.
  
• Talentless - Whether as a side-effect of her mutation, or a symptom of her self-perception, Krysta has no natural talent. While she can always learn new skills, her peak proficiency is universally low. For example; despite years of experience wielding a handgun, she has terrible aim.
  
• The Abyss Stares Back / Don't Stare at the Sun - Her ability to perceive power can be detrimental. Beings that derive their abilities from eldritch gods are painful to look at. Dark patrons can take notice of her, or she may be unable to comprehend the powers her vision reveals.
  Those who possess an overabundance of powers and talents are equally difficult for Krysta to behold. They subject her to an overwhelming amount of visual information that can obscure everything else in her view, effectively blinding her.
  

Statistics

Art by JupeJupeRocket

Rehab Transcripts

T - "You've been in the program for almost a year now, any thoughts about that?"

K - "Not really."

T - "Do you think you've changed in that time?"

K - "I haven't killed anyone, so I guess that's a change."

T - "Is that because you didn't want to, or because you couldn't?"

K - "I'm here because I want to be. Being here negates the need to kill people. Figure it out from there."

T - "I'd like to hear you say it yourself."

K - "Then the answer is both and neither. Only psychotic lunatics actively want to kill people, and I'm not a psychotic lunatic. 
     I have things that I want and I'm not going to lose sleep over killing someone who gets in the way. At the moment, killing people only serves to hinder me."

T - "So you're just being pragmatic."

K - "Correct. Is that disappointing to hear? That I still wouldn't lose any sleep over killing you?"

T - "Well it's only been a year. I'd be suspicious if you weren't hostile."

K - "Hostile?"

T - "Lacking empathy then. You still don't value the lives of others."

K - "I value my own far more."

T - "You did say something worth exploring though. What are your goals exactly? 
     I don't sense any real desire to become a reformed citizen, much less a potential hero for the people."

K - "Still figuring out the specifics myself."

T - "Then talk me through your thought process, I'm interested to know what's been driving you through life."

K - "I'm not keen on just spilling incomplete plans to you."

T - "Something to hide?"

K - "I'd have been far more tight-lipped if I wanted to keep you in the dark. You know that."

T - "Fair point. How about rather than your present intentions, we discuss goals you've already met?"

K - "Like backstabbing Ruin to weasel out of being locked in a cell for the rest of my life?"

T - "Sure, we can talk about that. Why did you do it?"

K - "Payback for my eye."

T - "I don't really see how simple revenge leads into turning yourself in."

K - "It got me out of jail time, as I said."

T - "That's not what I'm asking about. If your past is point A and your future is point C, then being here is point B."

K - "And I've made it clear I don't know what point C is yet. This conversation really is going fucking no-where isn't it?"

T - "Yes, yes, well done. You're doing a great job of avoiding my line of questioning. I have all the time in the world to keep asking though, Krysta.
     What you're doing only hurts yourself, not me."

K - "And I'm totally at peace with that."

T - "Krysta, at some point you're going to have to decide whether you actually want to reform for the better.
     Otherwise you'll just be spinning your wheels until you're too old and weak to make a decision at all."

K - "Isn't that a decision in itself though?"

T - "Not one worth entertaining for someone as exceptional as you."

K - "Is that an attempt to appeal to my better nature?"

T - "It's my honest opinion."

K - "Did I ask for it? Your opinion is nothing short of garbage."

T - "That's quite the reaction to an honest compliment."

K - "Well you're either lying to manipulate my emotions, or you genuinely believe what you're saying. Fuck you either way."

T - "I do consider you exceptional. You possess a unique and powerful gift with the potential to do great things! I'm surprised you disagree."

K - "Well now you can consider me a brick wall. Enjoy talking to yourself."

T - "I want to explore this subject further so I hope you'll reconsider."

K - *No Response*

T - "If you don't see yourself as exceptional, then what is your opinion of yourself?"

K - *No Response*

T - "I refuse to believe you consider yourself completely ordinary."

K - *No Response*

T - "Krysta, I'm going to ask you about this every week from now on, because it's important.
     You're superhuman, there's no disputing that fact. For you to not exhibit even the slightest amount of pride in that is, to me, a huge red flag."

K - *No Response*

#INTERVIEW CONTINUES FOR REMAINING TIME WITH NO SHIFT IN TOPIC. K REFUSES TO COOPERATE#

T - "Well we're nearing your two year anniversary here so I'll open with what I asked you last year."

K - *No Response*

T - "Do you think you've changed over the last two years?"

K - "How did I reply last year?"

T - "Well I've got the transcript with me and you said... you hadn't killed anyone."

K - "What a lame response."

T - "You've never really liked to give satisfying answers. How do you plan to respond this time?"

K - "I wouldn't give these last two years much credit. Maybe just the last week or so."

T - "I'm aware you've been spending a great deal of time with another individual on the program. The alien warlord...Momo...Momomorok..."

K - "Khan. I just call him Khan."

T - "Khan. Would you consider him a friend?"

K - "More or less."

T - "You don't sound certain."

K - "I'm not."

T - "Is it because you aren't used to having friends?"

K - "I really couldn't tell you either way."

T - "Well, hopefully that uncertainty will fade as you spend more time together."

K - "Whatever you say."

T - "But that's quite a big change, you've always been very determined to exist in solitude in the past. What sparked this relationship?"

K - "He wasn't some sad, guilt-ridden piece of shit clawing at redemption. I found that admirable."

T - "Why do you find that admirable?"

K - "I don't know how to explain something like that."

T - "Fair enough. You're being much more candid today, if you don't mind me saying so."

K - "I guess I've stopped giving a shit about what I tell you."

T - "Is that your way of saying you're willing to open up now?"

K - "If that's how you want to interpret that, be my guest."

T - "In that case, I'll ask the age old question; how do you perceive yourself?

K - "Remind me how you got so set on this subject? Why did it become so important to you?"

T - "Well, usually super-humans see themselves as extraordinary. Having miraculous powers almost always fosters a sense of pride."

K - "Right."

T - "But you're the opposite. You were very hostile at the mere suggestion you were someone exceptional. Almost as if it were offensive to you."

K - "Because it is."

T - "According to your file, you can see people's abilities and steal them for yourself. That's an incredible power!"

K - "Well if you stop marvelling over what's shiny and actually look at me..."

T - "I'm sorry, Krysta, but you're going to have to explain your point of view."

K - "Do you think this thing has an off switch? Do you think I see the world as you do?"

T - "I assume the answer to both questions is no."

K - "And what do you think I see when I look in the mirror? What do you think my exceptional vision tells me about myself?"

T - "Krysta..."

K - "It shows me nothing. Nothing!"

T - "Krysta--"

K - "So when you gawk at it like every other scumbag in this town and call me exceptional, I get this urge to slit your throat and dump you in the Westside Harbour!"

T - "If you could--"

K - "And to top it all off, I have to listen to you say that with all your exceptional talents right in front of me!"

T - "Okay, let's just calm down."

K - "So you want to know what I want? My big driving desire that's compelled me to completely upend my life two times over?"

T - "Kry--"

K - "I WANT TO BE EXCEPTIONAL!"

T - "Okay, I understand. Take some deep breaths, you've done really well."

K - "Three cheers for me. Since murdering you would be counter-productive, can I ask you to stop calling me exceptional?"

T - "I'll never say it again. However, from now on I'll be helping you reach a point where I won't need to say it. Because you'll believe it yourself."

#K DESCENDS INTO LAUGHTER AND IS DISMISSED EARLY BY T. K'S SCHEDULE WILL BE ADJUSTED TO HELP RAISE CONFIDENCE AND REPAIR HER DAMAGED SELF-PERCEPTION#

T - "What do you make of your revised schedule?"

K - "You've cut out a lot."

T - "True, but I'm certain the previous arrangement was wasted on you."

K - "Some of the staff said there wasn't much point in trying to teach me empathy."

T - "There's a few reasons for that."

K - "Well it's a waste of time isn't it? I talked about it with a friend actually."

T - "Khan?"

K - "No. Someone else."

T - "And what did this conversation reveal?"

K - "Things you probably know already."

T - "But aren't willing to admit out loud?"

K - "Sure."

T - "Krysta, I'm not a plaything that's going to dance around in the palm of your hand.
     From what you said last week, I can conclude you grew up constantly exposed to other people's talents.
     Since you don't see anything when you look at yourself, there's a high likelihood you felt inferior to everyone around you.
     Fair to say you are driven largely by envy and resentment."

K - "Well look who has me all figured out!"

T - "You're trying to turn this into some sort of game and I'm not going to give you the satisfaction."

K - "So if I refuse to answer anything, you'll answer for me?"

T - "If I believe you're being deliberately difficult, yes."

K - "Great. So why is teaching me empathy a waste of time?"

T - "Villains generally lack empathy because they view themselves as superior.
     That is what the standard schedule tries to resolve.
     Since you consider yourself inferior those activities mean nothing to you."

K - "You know I could kill you easily, right?"

T - "And you would feel justified if you did, because you believe I'm superior to you.
     The truth is, there's no point teaching you empathy because you have it in spades already.
     Were you to meet someone lacking in talent, I have no doubt you would form a bond with them immediately."

K - "So?"

T - "So if you're able to relate to someone you consider your equal, then the simple solution is to address your feelings of inferiority."

K - "Right..."

T - "I don't expect it to be an easy process but I hope you'll work with me on this, rather than against me."

K - "Whatever."

T - "Still, I am pleased that you have friends you can speak to."

K - "Not sure what they see in me really."

T - "What's it like being around them?"

K - "I feel safer for one. They're powerful people and I'm glad they're there."

T - "...Anything else?"

K - "They sometimes just say nice things and it really throws me off."

T - "That's good."

K - "...Whatever."

T - "Do you say anything nice in return?"

K - *No Response*

T - "Krysta."

K - "I don't want to talk about this."

T - "Why not?"

K - "I'm not talking about this."

T - "Fine. Fine. We'll revisit this another time."

K - "Not likely."

T - "Are there times where you feel unsafe?"

K - "...I fucking hate you."

T - "That may be so but I couldn't ignore that earlier comment."

K - "I can see people's superpowers. That can be pretty damn scary sometimes, big whoop."

T - "You have a habit of trying to deflect a question with an answer that's technically true, but not the real answer."

K - "I'm not going to tell you the real answer."

T - "Krysta there's nothing to be gained from pushing me back."

K - "I'm not always making some tactical fucking play! Sometimes it really is just something I don't want to talk about!"

T - "Don't you think those topics are exactly what you should be discussing with me?"

K - "No."

T - "Krysta, you might believe there are some things you should keep concealed forever but, you're wrong.
     I won't force the matter this time, but I'm warning you now: we will discuss it eventually, there's no avoiding that."

K - "I doubt it." 

#K LARGELY NON-RESPONSIVE FOR THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW. FOR FULL TRANSCRIPT PLEASE CONTACT T DIRECTLY#

Nemeses

• Ruin - Krysta's former partner in crime. Though currently incarcerated, it's only a matter of time before he finds a way to break out. With his ability to convert velocity into misfortune, he has an excellent match-up against speedsters. Due to the unpredictable nature of his power, law enforcement had to be very selective with who they sent to capture him. Were it not for Krysta's betrayal, he would still be very much at large.
  
• Queen's Eye - A woman with the ability to assimilate body parts from other people. In the past she barely even qualified as a villain, but found a chance for real power in the form of an item being sold on the Black Market: The Right Guide's Eye. No price was too high for her and it didn't take long for her to acquire the eye. What she found though, was disappointment. After transplanting the eye, she gained Krysta's ability to see power and talent. However, she was unable to utilise the power stealing abilities the eye was known for.
  Her desperate bid for power and control did eventually yield fruit after months of perseverance. She manifested the ability to induce the activation of superpowers in others.
  Where Guide's Eye is a talent thief, Queen's Eye is a talent hijacker.