Shadow Maven
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Contents
An Ancient Tale
Before the story of young Kara Falco begins, there must first be told the tale of the Shadow Maven spirit.
The spirit of the Shadow Maven has been told in many tales, since ancient times. She's been called by many names over the centuries; The Shadow of Death, Dark Justice, and much more. Regardless of the name the spirit was given, each tale was the same. Wherever there was injustice, murder, and senseless bloodshed, the spirit would be there. No one knew who the spirit was, or how it could survive for centuries. One rarely survived staring into the face of fear, and death and living to tell the tale.
From Hordes, to armies, to riotous crowds the spirit would strike the guilty. Shadows would surround the victims, coming to life from all side. Bodies would be lifted into the air, as pressure crushed it from all angles. Screams would be heard, as their worst fears came to life in their minds, assaulting them from the inside out. All that was left in the end were twisted form, contorted bodies, sprayed fluids, and faces solidified in terror.
Thus was the legend of the Shadow Maven
Kara Falco
Normalcy
Kara Rose Falco was born on June 17, 1992 in Santa Clara, CA to parents Dominick & Anna Falco. The Falco's were the typical Silicon Valley family. Dominick was a top software developer, specializing in chipset technology. Anna was a nurse full time for a while, but with a successful husband in high demand in the technology sector Anna was afforded the luxury of reducing her work to only part time.
Once Kara was born, the part time work schedule became all but non-existent, but that did nothing to dampen the family's upper class lifestyle. Although Kara was brought up wanting for nothing, she still managed to be grounded. Her father's work exposed her to technology. Her mother's influence, however, was more that of high society. Anna Falco had very solid ideals. She was very attached to her level of life, and very adamant that the normalcy of this never changed. Anna was a woman who wouldn't hesitate to turn her nose down at something that displeased her, writing it out of her life for good.
Picking Up & Leaving Home
For years, the Silicon Valley flourished as the technology center of the United States. Companies migrated there shortly after inception, staying for the long haul. As such, software engineers like Dominick Falco were in high demand, meaning whichever employer he was with became tasked with ensuring his salary kept him there.
Near the turn of the millennium, that began to change. The fall of Detroit, and the rise of Millennium City became bigger and bigger news as time went on. Heroes, and villains were coming out of the woodwork. As many rose to destroy the Earth, more rose to protect it. What's more, Millennium City started becoming the focal point of it all. The City of the Future exploded in mass technological waves, and advances, that started leaving the Silicon Valley struggling to keep up.
Metahumans were the new consumers. Their specialties also made them the next generation of genius employees. Sure, Millennium City had its dangers as these metahumans were also the threats of the next generation, but that did nothing to detract from the bright lights of future city. Soon the flow of company migrations began to change. The competitive market was in Michigan, more so than California. The demand had changed. In order to keep up, the people had to change with it.
With jobs moving to Michigan, people moved as well. For years Dominick's friends kept trying to sway his move, but Anna would not budge. To her, Millennium City was a city of freaks. People in tights, with capes, weapons, and things shooting out of their eyes and hands dominated the population. It was not a society for her. No one was normal there, and could never be. They were destined to be freaks, and she'd have no part of it.
Unfortunately, the Falco style of living could no longer hold up to Anna's decision. With California no longer being on the competitive edge, Dominick's salary was no longer on that edge. Times were tighter, as salaries lowered, and it was finally time for Anna to give in and go where the money flowed.
The family moved in 2005. Within days, Dominick found work at Millennium Tech. Millennium Tech was well known for their various government contracts, including pieces of software used by the same supercomputer the heroes interacted with on a regular basis. On the civilian side, Millennium Tech's software provided consistent, easily accessible, and up to date reports on news, traffic, safety, and danger zones. These services were invaluable across the board, meaning Millennium Tech was always in need of top quality engineers.
For Anna's part, she was torn. She missed California society dearly, and was deeply tempted to simply hole up in the house. She almost preferred that to interacting with anyone in this town. She never knew if the next person she met would end up being some weirdo with a secret identity. In the end, boredom was stronger than stubbornness, and Anna soon took up work part-time at Mercy Hospital.
Though she tried to avoid it, caring for fallen heroes was as much a part of her job as caring for civilians. The combination of her convictions, and needing to perform her job while keeping secret identities in tact left Anna exhausted on an almost daily basis.
With her mother's mood strained more often than not, Kara grew closer and closer to her father. She thought heroes were cool, and hoped her mother would come around, but didn't dare voice her thoughts. For now, the status quo needed to be maintained. If for no other reason than for her dad's sake.
The Two Become One
The night of June 16, 2008, was quiet but choc full of anticipation as 15 year old Kara Falco struggled to go to sleep. What teenager doesn't get excited the night before their birthday. The big 16 mark might not mean much to many, but to the teenager turning 16 it meant everything. Kara didn't know what her parents had in store, but she new that regardless of anything else it would be a birthday to remember. They always were.
As Kara finally managed to drift into sleep, she began to dream. Outside, in the distance, simultaneously, clouds began to form. A dark, urban tornado of sorts touched down in the city. Some feared Dr. Destroyer. Many households were already asleep. Of the remaining, who were still awake, they simply didn't know what to think.
Outside the Falco home, shadow clouds swirled through the window of young Kara's bedroom. They surrounded her body, wrapping her in a thick cloak. Kara began to stir. In her dreams, she found herself in a meadow but something seemed wrong. The peacefulness turned cold as a figure walked towards her. The figure was cloaked in shadows, and every step seemed foreboding.
"What the ..." In her dream, Kara felt herself almost too paralyzed to talk.
"I am fear. I am death.." The shadow spoke, and though its tone was quiet, it seemed to command. The voice was also female, ""I am dark justice. I am righteousness. You have been chosen to host, and harness my power."
As quickly as the dream began, it ended. Kara's eyes snapped open with a start, but nothing seemed out of place. Heavy eyelids drifted closed, ushering the teen into a deep, and now restful, sleep.
The Maven Emerges ... A Life Forever Changed
Kara's birthday was like a blur. Both parents took the day off from work, and Kara's first surprise was a visit to her dad's work. This wouldn't seem like a fun venture to most normal teens, but Kara was of the emerging geek variety. She'd been pleading with her dad for a visit, making this present extra special.
Lunch was supposed to be a quick trip to Ace Burger, to fuel up on energy before figuring out next steps. Unfortunately, those plans changed. A crazed Maniac crashed through Ace Burger in broad daylight, scaring everyone around. In moments, the assailant vaulted over the counter, boosted the register, and fled. Patrons, and employees alike, were in a panic. Though attacks weren't rare, broad daylight in front of dozens of witnesses was.
Everyone was instructed to remain put until the police arrived, but it was sheer pandemonium. Dominick used this opportunity to usher his family out, and not attract attention. Unfortunately, the rest of the day was cut short as Kara began doubling over in pain, so the family returned home.
That night, the Maven Spirit took over. Unbeknown to Kara's parents, their daughter had vanished into a cloud of shadow. In Westside, in Leo's Bar, the shadows wreaked havoc on the assailant, and all around. Few managed to escape alive. By morning, when news broke, bodies were littered across the floor compressed, broken, leaked, and frozen in fear. Morning news streamed through the Falco household, and Anna suddenly had a sick feeling of coincidence. She raced to her daughter's bedroom, with her husband right behind her, trying to convince her otherwise. All manner of talk stopped though, once faced with what they saw.
Protective shadows circled around Kara. There was no mistaking that they were not ordinary. Somehow sensing they were being watched, the shadows retreated into the teenagers body.
Within 24 hours, Kara was turned over to a children's services group home...
Dominick tried, weakly, to fight it but he knew full well that he would lose. On top of that, he, too, wasn't sure if he could handle what he'd seen on his daughter that day. Anna would not be overrun. She demanded some semblance of normalcy in her life, and now that no longer included claiming that she had a daughter. Kara was put out.
Ending in the Streets
The only group home with room was on Westside. Kara was in shock. Just two days ago, her life was normal. Now her mother was calling her a freak, saying something was inside of her, and shipping her off to the system. Was this really happening?
Though Kara had always been grounded, and able to stand on her own two feet, this was a whole other level. She no longer had loving, caring parents. Within ten hour, she also no longer had her duffel bag of clothes.
Rustling around 2AM awoke her, and Kara spotted other kids rifling through her things. She went after them, and a fight broke out. None came to be the the victor by the time security broke them up. The facilitator of the house was less than pleased. Knowing this would only be the beginning of her torture here, Kara snuck out, and began living on the streets.
The first week would all but kill Kara. The first two days, she was saved by her father seeking her out. Once he realized what had happened at the group home, he stumbled upon her in the streets, and offered her food. Kara made a point of denying she knew the man. By this time, the streets had already taught her several hard knox lessons about being the new face around. Some of those lessons, her body would not ever forget.
Meeting Mac
A pawn shop owner would become an unlikely ally. Weeks into Kara's life on the streets, she'd stumble upon him fighting with his store's computerized security. Kara's offer of assistance had the man instantly up in arms. Kara spared few words in setting him straight. Upon second look, the owner noticed she was different from most everyone else he'd seen on the streets.
The man's name was Mac Reynard, and over the next few years he'd help Kara as best he could. With employment, and eventually some form of place to live other than the streets and abandoned buildings, Kara was actually beginning to feel content again. There were lots of things that would make her happy, but since the day her parents turned their backs, Kara stopped putting stock in happiness.
In March of 2011, Mac was killed. His shop had grown in popularity with people in the neighborhood. No one knew how he managed to suddenly be able to fix all manner of electronics. Of course Kara was his secret weapon, but she insisted to be kept in the back and refused attention of any sort. He understood, and he sympathized.
This attention, however, also included the Purple Gang. A popular business meant an owner in need of protection from the reigning syndicate, but Mac refused to buy. He refused to bend to their threats. One day, as Kara had left and Mac was about to lock up, they ended his life. Kara would find out the morning after it happened.
This wouldn't stop Mac from looking after Kara. He left many things to her in his will, seeing as he had no family of his own. Problem was, without Mac, Kara's living arrangement ended horridly. He was the only thing between her, and the slimy hotel owner where she was renting. Neither would win in a battle against wills, but Kara at least made it his final move against her, causing the man to lose his property.
Without a place to live, Kara saw no way to make use of Mac's money and possessions. So she made provisions to store them away for now, and she's been back on the streets ever since..