Mind-Blank
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Contents
Background/History
William Zard can’t remember a time when he didn’t have mental powers. He was not always aware of them, but intuitively used them regardless. When he was in primary school he used them to keep bullies away from him — and make teachers feel more favourable towards him. In high school he used his powers to get straight A's in subjects he didn't care about or had no aptitude for and get girls who couldn’t withstand the force of his powers of mental domination/suggestion. It is stilll something of a mystery to his peers now why the most desirable, but the dumb pretty girls always ended up in his arms. All in all, a most pleasant existence.
He wasn't made fully aware of his powers until a meeting with his guidance counsellor, whom he went to get careers advice from, who was actually the local PSI operative. Realising William's potential, he recruited him and furthered his training. The addition of PSI's patented PSIserum also awakened his latent Telekinetic powers. PSI put him to work as one of their low level crime strike team leaders. William began to research other criminal mentalists and started to emulate them, but in particular he found Menton to be the most fascinating. His contempt for almost everyone else appealed to William, especially with how he was able to influence the weak minded. Mind-Blank began to draw parallels, though as he freely admits he is a mental midget by comparasion.
He arrogantly christened himself “Mind-Blank” and set about robbing banks. His first few robberies were an astounding success; he flashily mind controlled the guards or put them to them sleep and loudly demanded money from the tellers, who just handed it to him, after which he walked out the door. Then he tried to rob a bank when Hawk-Bat happened to be nearby. A few minutes later, the Hawk-Bat was posing heroically for the cameras and giving a post-battle interview while Mind-Blank was being taken by emergency vehicle to the nearest mental ward.
Humiliated and badly injured, William began to rethink his approach. He didn’t like pain — in fact, he absolutely loathed it — and had little interest in getting involved with the usual sorts of battles people with superpowers seemed to participate in. He had to come up with another way to do commit crime. Again he looked to his idol for inspiration. Menton, hardly ever lowered himself to actual physical combat. In fact he was always pulling the strings from the shadows. Just look at his 2005 attempt to manipulate the people of Guamanga into electing him their president. Using that country as a power base he could have quickly taken over many other nations, and eventually Earth. While Mind-Blank knew he didn't have that kind of power, it was a good lesson in how to get power, while makng sure you never had to face any pain.
Already well-versed in many scientific subjects due to his innate intelligence and interest in such matters and pretending to be a reformed character (there is a chance that he may have psionically influenced the review staff) he gained parole with a few conditions attached. He quit the PSI organisation, changed his name and falsified records so they couldn't track him down. He easily won a scholarship to a university where he studied applied sciences and in particular DNA mutation. He achieved a first class degree and then went on to study his PhD. He achieved all of this in 4 short years (his aptitude and innate intelligence meant he progressed faster than normal)
Mind-Blank, then put this knowledge to good use or rather he decided to supply the fringe criminal element tech and low level devices to help them commit crime all for a cut of the proceeds. He figured this a was nice way of controlling them "Menton style," If they ever tried to double cross him, William would use his mental powers to convince them otherwise. He slowly but surely began to amass a sigificant fortune. (Not Millions, but enough to comfortable by if you were careful) however, it wasn't long before a cape busted one of the gangs he was supplying and the trail led back to him. UNTIL and other law enforcement agencies are now looking for him because he violated the terms of his parole. PSI quickly learned of his re-emergence are also on the look out and probably want to kill him. But he’s smarter than all of them put together, and intends to stay far away from jail — or the business end of any PSI Psionics.
Realising that he is now hunted (though not as badly by UNTIL as he believes) he has started to take a more active part in crime. Though he still doesn't like to be on the frontline and avoids it where possible.
Personality/Motivation
Mind-Blank makes a secret of his general contempt for the rest of humanity. Its less painful to announce these kinds of opinions. He considers everyone else on Earth, up to and including the most powerful politicians, businessmen, and master villains, his inferior. To him, other people are just puppets to control and manipulate as he chooses. He enjoys displaying his “superiority,” by inflicting various petty and not-so-petty cruelties on other people, like Mind Controlling them to do things that get them fired or divorced, forcing women to obey his whims while retaining full awareness of what they’re doing (and then changing their memories of his appearance so they accuse someone else of the crime), and so forth.
Mind-Blank’s goal as a criminal is to amass as much wealth as possible. he does this for 2 reasons:
1) He has very expensive tastes he likes to indulge; whenever possible, he lives in expensive hotel rooms and penthouses, eats the best food, drink the finest wines, and dates the most beautiful women (whether they’ll date him of their own free will or not). If he doesn’t have money, you can bet he’s scheming to get some, somehow. If he ever hit a really big score, he would probably retire from crime — at least until the money ran out.
2) Because money brings power, while William is a credible mentalist, there is no guarantuee his powers will always work on someone or subtly influence them. His run in with Hawk-Bat taught him that. His insanity pretty much protected him from William's powers. (How do you control a guy with at least 4 different voices in your head?!) With money he could by muscle and components needed for his gadgets.
Rumour has it that he is actively recruiting a gang, taking his que from the PSI organisation i.e. Safety in numbers, he has embarked on a few more crimes recently. In particular he has been seen in the company of known criminal Insanity Green given his history with beautiful women it is safe to assume that he is psionically influencing her some how, whether or it is direct control or more subtle suggestion remains to be seen. The crimes he has committed seem to have a fairly bizarre MO, but nevertheless have been profitable. Mostly non lethal in nature, as he would prefer not to murder anyone (though if he had too he might) Time will tell what he is up to...
UNTIL Criminal Classfication: ALPHA... Report of Criminal known as "Mind-Blank," follows:
Pyschological Profile
Mind-Blank is a coward, though not a completely abject one. His fight with Hawk-Bat taught him just how painful superpowered combat can be, and he has no desire to repeat the experience. He’ll run rather than fight if confronted by superheroes. The only exception to this is if he has superior numbers on his side or some sort of plan that he is confident will turn the tide. Coward or not, Mind-Blank is still a criminal and sometimes displays a rather vicious streak. He will make sneak attacks or use “dirty blows” to gain a quick advantage, and he loves to torment his enemies when they’re down (or to take unpleasant forms of revenge on them if they hurt or capture him). Superheroes who approach him simply as a cowardly little Mentalist are in for a surprise.
Mind-Blank usually carries a large selection of gadgets (and sometimes the spare parts with which to build other gadgets). He’s really more
dangerous than he looks with the all the gadgetry, a fact his enemies sometimes forget. He’d really like to learn Psionic Engineering
so he can build devices into his hood that augment his Mental Powers, but so far the secrets of that science elude him. It is suspected, he might take some serious risks to acquire that knowledge. Certainly he is interested in other Psionic devices and may take an uncharacteristic risk to steal or just physically take it away from the owner.
For all his power, Mind-Blank is a subtle man not prone to combat. He prefers to work behind the scenes, to control others and get them to do his
bidding instead. To this end he often wanders around the super hero hotspots in disguise listening for clues and tipoffs to paying gigs. Where possible he will attempt to surface scan the thoughts of a person to see if he can gain any further insight of the person or blackmail opportunities.
Powers/abilities
Mind-Blank is a mentalist with an average range of Medium strength PSI abilities. He is known to possess powers of suggestion, mental control, Mental blasts of varying strengths and confusion. He also has a few medium strength Telekinetic abilities. These are known to be limited to waves/blasts, holds and shields. He has never shown any abilities in ego weaponry, but given his cowardice (see pyschological profile above) in close combat this is not entirely suprising. If he tries to actively control or influence a person directly with his mentalist powers of suggestion there is usually a price. If he does this once or twice it will leave him with a splitting headache. Further attempts will result in migraines, nose bleeds and possible loss of conscienceness. His other Mutation appears to be Fast Healing. Finally, his time with Insanity Green appears to have taught him some form of limited acrobatics.
He is a skilled scientist (specialism in genetics) and very intelligent man, if he actually thought about it he could make money legally. Somehow this fact appears to have escaped him. Perhaps he feels he would make more from crime. Given his reportedly expensive tastes and his imitation/adoration of Menton maybe he needs crime to fund these obsessions.
He usually makes his money with his talents as a genetics wizard and inventor — he supplies other criminals with gadgets or advice to help their crimes go more smoothly. Occasionally he hires himself out to help criminal groups; he does still commit a few crimes on his own, but they tend to be very low-risk ones. Recently he has been seen in the company of other more high profile criminals. This is being monitored closely.
Utility belt
Mind-Blank relies on his gadgets almost as much as his mental powers. This is because he has learned through bitter experience exactly how painful combat can be and has no desire to repeat it. Many a super hero has oncentrated on his mental powers only to underestimate his gadgets allowing him to make a fast getaway as they are pinned or otherwise engaged. He carries all his gadgets in a fairly standard looking utility belt.
Known devices include:
1) Forcefields - A powerful temporary forcefield.
2) HoT bots - Effective and often used.
3) Henchmen - With a remote he can call either his teammates or manimal rats to aid him. Often used so that he doesnt have to fight.
4) Limited teleportation technology - Stolen from the Gadroon. Used to make a getaway or steal a suprise move on someone.
5) Smoke Bombs - Classic escape tactic, watch for this one.
6) Anti-grav plate - By focusing his telekinetics on to a collapsable Anti-Grav plate, he has created an extremely fast means of travel.
7) Underwater gear - Crimes happen in Lemuria as well! Though he hates the place (his mental powers are limited against different species) occasionally he finds himself in need of a reason to travel there. Also doubles as an independent Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus in case of gas attack.
8) Immobilisation grenades - Often an opening attack or another way of escaping. Made from the Qularr.
9) Fragmentation Grenades - Stolen VIPER tech. Does what you think they do.
10) Prototype Surge Accelerator - Another protection device. Sonic and force based powers are of little effect when he uses this.
11) A civilian disguise - Can't commit crimes without one...
12) Rampage Biologic shots - Last ditch, doesn't want to use it, but will have to, all or nothing tactic. This is a serum created by Zard that for one minute, massively increases his damage abilities and makes him far more resistant to punches and knockbacks. If he marketed this is would make thousands. He doesn't appear to realise this or the long term effects are unknown. Only used when he is backed into a corner and HAS to fight.
Combat
Mind-Blank is a not a skilled combatant, (this maybe another reason to his attachment of Insanity Green - who is an extremely skilled combatant- approach with caution) If forced into a confrontation he will he prefers to Mind Control one foe to attack another, thereby removing two enemies from contention. This is not a surefire tactic and will only last a matter of seconds. He will do everything in his power to put as much distance between his foes and himself, this will include, but is not limited to many different telekinetic blasts, holds, throws and shields. Confusion and mind control, smoke bombs, Immobilisation grenades and throwing waves of expendable henchmen at the situation. As a last resort he will inject himself with Rampage Biologic. So far many different combinations of the above seem to have worked.
He is not strong physically and one solid punch will probably make him fold like paper.
Be advised that this guy has no qualms about begging for mercy or playing possum to gain a quick advantage. If you find him out in the open and appears to be waiting for you or looks confident, there is more to the situation than you think. Approach with some caution.
Appearance
Mind-blank is an average-looking Caucasian man in his late twenties, quite thin, 6’2” tall, bald (a source of annoyance)with a brown goatee. He wears a dark red sort of jumpsuit hooded leather costume, with a blue and purple PSI Mask, black boots, yellow belt and red gloves. The whole thing has swirls of purple interlaced and can cause a mild headache if looked at too long. He has the PSI symbol on his chest and the cape is a yellow/purple/red swirl mash that causes a the same effect as the suit, though slightly worse. The belt is clearly a high-tech and conatins a numerous gadgets.
Associates, Allies, And Adversaries
Thanks to his supplying of low tech and advice to the gangs across Millenium City he has contacts with the Cobra's, the New Purple Gang, The Black Aces and even VIPER. That said its not likely any would come running if he called for help, infact he has clashed with a few of them on more than one occasion. Criminals are not known for their loyalty. Though if they pay, he will work for them.
He does have a loyal bodyguard called Harley Davidson - Little more than hired muscle. With his knowledge of genetics he has captured manimals and cloned them to be subservant to him. Finally as already stated, he has a close relationship with Insanity Green, though how much of this is mind control is currently unknown (Seriously though what else could it be? how could a total babe like her be with a Loser like him? - Peter le Croix "mindgames," division of UNTIL) Unless he does something major we consider him a mid level threat.
PSI are known to want to capture or kill him. This has led to several battles on the streets before heroic intervention could stop them.
End report.
What others Say
If you know him ingame feel free to comment. Unless you know he is a criminal and I KNOW who knows, don't write anything about his activities.
