Cord
Clone replicant made from the combination of several superheroes and a murder victim. A member of the Aegis of Justice.
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Contents
History!
Origins
Cordero Smith grew up on his grandfather's farm in Colcord Oklahoma, along with three older brothers and his older sister. The golden boy of his family, Cord was smart and athletic and well-liked. When he was 11, his dad moved the family to Oklahoma City to become pastor at a small Baptist church. Cord thrived in a larger city, but hid a secret from the world -- he was gay.
When he was 17, and about to graduate from high school, Cord was found drunk with another kid in a compromising position by his brothers. When his brothers hospitalized Cord's friend, Cord came out to his parents. His dad was furious and expelled him from the home as soon as he graduated from his school.
Cord was alone in the world, but eventually wandered to Austin Texas, where he did odd jobs and pursued a fine arts degree at University of Texas-Austin. He fell in love with an attractive agriculture student named Mark Danton, and the two became a couple. Mark persuaded him to accompany him to Vibora Bay on Spring Break, 2010, to Vibora Bay, claimng the city had more "character" than Fort Lauderdale.
Unfortunately this character included homicidal gangs. While going to visit the Black Mask graveyard, Mark and Cord were abducted by the Sovereign Sons, along with a girls' school contingent. Mark was murdered in a sacrificial ritual by the Sons; Cord, believing he had nothing to lose, gave his life in an effort to help the girls escape.
Only he didn't die.
Not Time Travel!
Elsewhere in the city, the veteran superhero ((Thundrax)) was travelling in time to avert an apocalypse, only for his archenemy, the demon Zorasto, to attempt to waylay his soul when he was vulnerable in the timestream. The goddess who gave Thundrax his powers knew that he needed to have his soul removed for protection, however, the body needed a soul to survive. Sensing Cord's imminent death and judging him worthy, the goddess placed Cord in the Thundrax form.
Waking up naked in Vibora Bay in a strange body, Thundrax's friends found Cord and brought him up to speed. Cord decided he had been given a purpose for being in the body, and chose to use Thundrax's power to continue the superhero mission. Eventually, with the help of the Strays and the Ascendant Dawn, Cord managed to find the machine that Zorasto was using to try to grab Craig's soul in the timestream. No longer in danger, the goddess restored Thundrax to his original state. Cord was apparently gone to his final rest.
A Room of His Own
Cord, however, was hidden deep in Craig's subconscious. With the help of Smokin' Mirrors, Cord's psyche was eventually extracted and Jim Exington (Mr. Indomitable) made him a new body from a combination of his own, Thundrax's and Cord's own DNA. Cord joined the Aegis of Justice, under Exington's tutelege. The body was in fact bigger than Thundrax's, thanks to the DNA combination.
Cord's found a good home in the Aegis. Mr. Indomitable views him as a son, while his adopted daughter Renee looks up to Cord as a big brother. Cord, however, holds a serious torch for his DNA dad. Cord's main work has been fighting VIPER, especially an agent called Vipereon, who plans to get revenge on Mr. Indomitable by menacing Cord. He tends to be very protective of both his DNA parents and will often step in when Thundrax is incapacitated. He's also involved in several relationships, though his current hopes are set on Jim.
Cord is known only to a few, and has yet to amass a significant reputation in the superhero community.
Powers!
Superhuman strength
Cord can comfortably press over 100 tons and hold over 25 tons over his head for sustained periods. As with Thundrax, he can charge himself with electricity to supercharge his strength for brief periods of time.
Invulnerability
Cord is almost as invulnerable as his two superhuman progenitors. Teflon coated rounds bounce off his skin. He is highly resistant to cutting attacks and explosions, though attacks on a molecular level (such as precise telekinesis) can seriously hurt him.
Flight
Cord is a good flyer, capable of reaching speeds just above Mach I (approximately 700 mph). He doesn't seem to be able to boost his speed, at least at the present time.
Lightning!
One trick that Cord is extremely good with is throwing lightning bolts, where (by some unknown quirk) he's Thundrax's superior; he's more versatile with his lightning attacks, and can throw much more devastating attacks, though he's not quite as good as his teammate Raiju.
Immortal body
Cord's body is assumed to have similar ageless properties as Thundrax's. However, it's too early to tell whether the assumptions are correct.
Summon Clothing
Much like Thundrax, Cord can use "the Living Thunder" to summon any article of clothing that he has in storage. So far, Cord has manifested this ability mostly unconsciously; the first time was to put on a VIPER uniform after Mechaniste had triggered some VIPER brainwashing.
Weaknesses
Friends!
Thundrax
The famous Canadian hero initially tried to take a mentorship role with Cord, but Cord balked at it. Cord views Craig as too stuffy, while Craig is sometimes uncomfortable with Cord's forwardness. Nonetheless, Cord and Craig shared each other's memories prior to Cord receiving his body, and that intimacy guarantees that they'll be there to support each other.
Mr. Indomitable
Cord's other "parent" is Jim Exington, Mr. Indomuitable, from whom Cord gets much of his size, as well as the ability to grow in combat. Cord has a serious crush on Jim, somewhat to the disgust of those who know about it, but Jim has yet to acknowledge it.
The Aegis of Justice
Cord is pretty tight with his teammates. He and Vibe are exploring the possibilities of a relationship, while he and Ignite enjoy a good close friendship as well. Cord looks at Renee (Mind Jewel) as a little sister, and is also fond of Peacemaker, Simon, and Raiju.
The Strays
While in Thundrax's body, Cord came into conflict with a number of Thundrax's friends, many who feared he'd usurp Thundrax's body for good. Eventually, he more or less won their respect and friendship, though relations between him and Zephaniah are slightly strained.
Ravage
The leader of the Ascendant Dawn, this was one of Cord's many crushes while living in Thundrax's body, and while Lucas did not share those particular feelings, the two men became good friends.
Blitzkreig
Cord views Dante, the clone of Gabe "Azunai" of the Ministry of Order, as a clone brother. Cord doesn't harbor romantic feelings toward the big guy; he just views him as a great friend who usually kicks his ass when they spar.
Scrapper
Cord also likes Blitzkreig's good friend Scrapper, who once memorably beat him in a sparring session (that Cord took too lightly).
The New Templars
The New Templars, especially Smokin' Mirrors, have been extremely helpful to Cord. There has been a bit of resentment, owing to the fact that Scalphunter, their evil universe counterpart, once defeated and scalped Cord with a Qlipthotic knife.
Enemies
Vipereon
Cord's most persistent enemy has been Shane Cassiday, an UNTIL-mercenary whose taken to dressing up in a modified VIPER commander uniform and has given himself the codename "Vipereon". Wuth numerous concealed gimmicks, such as force beams, eye beams and repulsors, Vipereon is a formidable opponent even for someone as tough as Cord. Vipereon's primary goal is to kill Mr. Indomitable, but sees Cord as a means to an end.
"The Boys"
Vipereon's team of crack agents have come to be affectionately known as "the Boys". A squad of four, only Steve Bagwell (their leader, "Steve") has remained constant throughout their pursuit of Cord, as Cord has invariably put the others in the hospital for long stretches. The Boys may not be the most capable band of mercenaries ever assembled, but they may be the most determined, as they'll follow Cord anywhere, even in places that aren't even remotely safe. This, and the fact that Steve looks so good in camos, has earned them Cord's admiration. Usually, they'll banter back and forth between each other, even as they engage in a struggle worthy of the ages (or at least Dastardly and Muttley vs. Yankee Doodle Pigeon).
The current compliment of the Boys is Steve (the leader), Shannon (the pretty one), Stavros (the tough one), and Newt (the nerdy one). They are sometimes backed up by a second squad of four which Cord calls "the Other Boys", though Cord doesn't know them as well.
Personal Interests!
Cord is extremely skilled at charcoal drawings and pencil sketches (he was working on a Fine Arts degree), and is pretty good at paintings and sculpture. He's also good at flower arranging and origami.
Cord likes long flights in hot dry climates and sunbathing on tropical beaches.
What Your Characters Know About this Guy
Cord is barely known in the superhero community, except to a few good friends.
Cord flirts with quite a few supers, but avoids the label "gay superhero" whereever possible, mainly because he doesn't want to be saddled with a label or become an icon to the community. This doesn't prevent him from privately supporting causes, and he doesn't deny his orientaion, but he likes to keep it separate from his superheroing.
Personal Philosophy
Cord's philosophy has been shaped by his rural upbringing, and his rebellion against it, and an acceptance of his orientation that swings wildly from flaunting it to vestiges of shame.
Cord has a strong sense of fun, but also a sense of responsibility that often seems beyond his years, pronpting a few who know him to label him "a boy scout", a label that makes Cord flinch. He takes being a superhero extremely seriously and can get flustered when he sees one of his colleagues disrespecting the profession.
After working on the killing floor of a meat plant while taking a summer job in eleventh grade, Cord became a vegan (with the odd exception of sushi, which Mark introduced him to in university).
Secrets
Cord's orientation isn't a secret. There is one thing he doesn't talk about regarding his sexuality -- since moving to his new body, he really hasn't felt much of a sexual drive. All of his romantic feelings, if anything, are overblown, though he's genuinely fond of the people he's met. He's actually quite frightened at this change.
As far as he's concerned, he and his old family are done, and he's no longer a member of that brood -- they believe he's dead, and he's fine with that. Thundrax, however, has urged him to attempt a reconciliation.
Your Opinion: What Other Superhumans Have To Say About Cord!
To be filled in by other characters. Please add your remarks here.
