Harrier (Mercedes Thomas-Arasaka)
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Contents
Background
The child of Silent Strike (Korinna Arasaka) and the Harrier King (Chance Thomas) from an alternate future, Mercedes Thomas-Arasaka arrived in this dimension due to an accident with Juryrig's time machine. Once on this plane, she contacted and re-established a relationship with her erstwhile parents, leading to her adoption and the assumption of her father's former heroic roll, Kid Harrier. As Kid Harrier, Mercedes fought alongside the Offspring and the Harassment of Harriers to protect Millennium City's West Side from criminals of all ilks.
Mercedes left Millennium City to attend the Harvard Business School. Completing her studies and as a participant in Arasaka's Executive Management Training Program, she has returned, ostensibly to take a position as an intern at the local office. While in the city, she has adopted her father's former nom de guerre, Harrier, and fights crime part time as a reserve member of the Protectors of the World.
Origins
Over the next hundreds of years, the leaders of the Arasaka Clan wielded the sword to build power. Acting as shinobi, coverts agents, the clan gained respect in the shifting landscape of Japanese politics. In 1570, Arasaka Akio fought alongside Hattori Hanzo in the Battle of Anegawa in 1570. Arasaka Yoshio led the family out of direct service to the Shogunate in 1581. 1854 saw Arasaka Takumi create Arasaka Shipping and Trading. At the dawn of the 20th Century, the company had emerged as one of the country's major zaibatsu, exerting significant influence over domestic and foreign policy and slowing drawing the country towards war.
During the Rape of Nanking, a spirit of vengeance infested the Night Blade and tainted its wielder, Captain Arasaka Isao. During the "Night of a Thousand Screams," Isao personally murdered over 1,000 Chinese. For the next 60 years, the weapon would temp its users into bouts of violent rage. In 2012, with the help of then fiance Chance Thomas, Korinna Arasaka completed a ritual to free the katana from the influence of vengeance and changed the relationship between yōkai and clan members. From that time forward, the spirits would choose certain family champions to grant powers with the goals of better protecting family interests and benefiting humanity.
Mercedes is one of these Arasaka Champions. The spirit of Toyotama-hime grants her supernatural abilities and powers. For long as Mercedes shows proper respect to the Gods of Japan and uses her powers for good, she will maintain them. The spirit bound to Harrier appears as a long, sinuous, wingless dragon to those with mystical sight.
Powers
Enhanced Physical Abilities
Observed data and testing places Mercedes' kinesthesia, proprioception, dexterity, and reflexes slightly ahead of those of human Olympic athletes. She can lift just over 350 kg above her head and run 50 meters in 6.20 seconds.
Limited Teleportation
Through her study of Kuji-in with her mother, Harrier can teleport within her line of sight or to specially prepared places. The spells of Kuji-in require free hands and fingers to move and gesture. A lengthy Buddhist ritual, lasting several days, prepares a location as a target for teleportation. Current locations include a secure room at Arasaka Castle on Yagishiri Island, Hokkaido, Japan; her apartment in Millennium City; and Kori's, her father's restaurant in the West Side of Millennium City.
Regeneration
Mercedes demonstrates extensive powers of regeneration. She can re-grow lost limbs and has survived heart piercing strikes. Evidence suggest only complete separation of her head from her body could kill her.
This regeneration does not protect her from destructive agents beyond physical blows. Mercedes remains susceptible to gasses and injected drugs. Drowning places her in a suspended state from which she will recover when her lungs have been sufficiently cleared of water.
Abilities
Investigation
Mercedes has studied under her father, The Harrier King, and his mentor, police lieutenant Eddie Alejandro, since her tween years. She understands police procedure and evidence gathering techniques, inductive and deductive reasoning, surveillance, and how to best build for a case for a court of law.
Knowledgeable and skilled, Mercedes lacks experiences in the field. For now, her ability matches that of a freshly minted detective in the MCPD.
Martial Arts
As a member of the Arasaka Clan, Mercedes received martial arts training from an early age, nearly as soon as she could walk. Her skills and special abilities place her as potentially one of the 100 top marital artist on the planet. Well schooled in Escrima, Aikido, Kendo, Kenjitsu, Iaido, Jujutsu, Sōjutsu, and Ninjutsu, the Harrier has adopted an eclectic combat style that often keeps her opponents off balance.
Infiltration and Exfiltration
Equipment
Sensory Holographic Information Networked Optical Biometric Interface
