History

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GenTech

Sometime during the early 80's, an experimental genetics company called GenTech was contracted by a mysterious benefactor working with government backing to perform experiments involving genetic mutations that resulted in the subject developing superpowers. Of particular interest were those possessing psionic type abilities. Ultimately, this resulted in the genetic manipulation of human zygotes and embryos to either induce mutation or to activate latent mutations. Most subjects died upon activation of their mutations, their brains almost literally burning up with psionic energy. However, one subject managed to survive to maturity, but before further experimentation could be done, a team of superheroes crashed the laboratory and freed the surviving test subjects and placed them in foster homes. One subject, a small red-haired toddler, was found to possess active mutant abilities as detected by one of the heroes. In order to protect him, a psionic block was put on his powers until he reached puberty and was better able to handle them.

Growing up

RJ lived a fairly decent life until he reached early puberty. Around 11 years old he started developing telepathic abilities. He tried to keep a wrap on the fact that he could hear voices in his head but it was hard considering the headaches and nosebleeds he'd get when he would go into public places. His parents tried every avenue to figure out what was wrong with their son, looking at every possibility including possession, psychosis, and cancer. Upon performing a CAT scan on the child, it was determined there was heightened activity in the frontal lobe and the limbic system in the child, on such a scale that a normal person would have succumbed to stroke, aneurysm, or worse long ago. Being subjected to testing, poking, prodding, and even an exorcism didn't help the young psychic who was scared and suddenly having flashback memories of GenTech. Not helping matters was when his parents sat down and revealed to him that he was adopted and was a mutant. Enraged, thinking his parents didn't want him anymore now that they knew he was "different", his telekinetic abilities emerged and he lashed out, destroying the house he and his parents lived in and killing them in the process. The terrified child ran away and found solace at a mutant halfway house. There he stayed, getting into trouble in the mutant underground, using his powers to manipulate the higher ups and gain a large amount of power and influence from the sidelines. However, he later cleaned up his act and wanted to go to college to honor the memory of his deceased parents, believing it was what they would have wanted for him. He buckled down in school and got a full scholarship to a private, four-year university. There he studied biology and computer information systems (psychology seemed like too obvious a choice for him).

Skiffytown

Eventually, Psynapse made his way to Skiffytown, wanting to use his powers to help others. He became a member of the Justice Brigade and got to work immediately. During the Final Showdown, he sent his astral projection into the mind of a catatonic Dr. Sonya Victor, freeing her from her psychic prison that she'd been placed in by the Devoro named Demutatio. Later, after recieving some odd dreams he was sent on a wild goose chase about his origins only to find a mysterious man in a red robe who proceeded to impale him and attack his friends. Upon learning that he possessed a large amount of genetic material from the superhero NightPhoenix, the Lord of Castle Phoenix took him to the Shadow Realm and healed him, saving him from the brink of death. Later, after being confronted about taking on a mission to save the Nexus of All Imagination, RJ turned in his costume and is acting as a rogue agent.

Powers and abilities

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Powers

RJ is an Omega Level mutant, capable of many psionic feats.

• Telepathy: A high-order telepath. He possesses vast powers to affect and manipulate the minds of other sentient beings. Psynapse can read minds and communicate with others over vast distances.
  • Telepathic Tracking: RJ is capable of tracking other sentient beings by tracing their psionic signatures, especially if they pose a threat to his well being in his immediate vicinity
  • Psychic Shadow: Able to mask his psionic presence from others. His powers become difficult to detect and track even by more powerful telepaths. He can extend this to others within a certain radius.
  • Mind Control: Capable of controlling the minds of others.
  • Possession: Psynapse can release a wave of psionic energy, flooding the mind of a single target. The target is stunned and in the meanwhile, Psynapse can place his mind into the body of the target. While under Psynapse's control, the victim's irises turn purple. He can only hold on for a few hours before the subject's mind wakes up and forces him out.
  • Telepathic Illusions: Capable of casting illusions into the minds of others. He can render himself invisible or alter his appearance, or make others experience events that aren't happening. These illusions tend to be based on the subject's fears or desires.
  • Mental Paralysis: Able to induce temporary mental or physical paralysis.
  • Amnesia: Can erase specific memories of events or cause total amnesia.
  • Psionic Blasts: Can emit blasts of focused psionic energy so as to cause the victim pain or unconsciousness or even kill them.
  • Astral Projection: Can project his psychic form on the astral or physical planes. On the astral plane he can create objects and manipulate aspects of his environment. On the physical plane he is an intangible being of raw psionic energy.
  • Telepathic Resistance: Is highly resistant to outside psionic manipulation.
• Telekinesis: Able to mentally affect the physical aspects of reality. He can lift and levitate himself and others and even fly. Other uses include creating force fields of telekinetic energy and using the same energy to enhance his own physical attacks and attributes.
• Psychic Sword: Psynapse can manifest one of two psionic swords. The telepathic sword causes neural disruptions and can affect astral, psionic, and illusory beings but cannot affect anything physical. The telekinetic sword can slice an armored foe, cutting only the armor and leaving the person inside unscathed, if he so wishes. He cannot deploy any of his other powers while the swords are active and can only summon one sword at a time.
• Precognition/Retrocognition/Clairvoyance: Currently, Psynapse has only displayed this power in dreams or in a trance-like state of meditation.
• Shadow Magic: After exposure to the energies of the Shadow Realm, RJ has gained a few specific magical abilities. It is possible he could become adept at Shadow magic but he has chosen not to explore this avenue.
  • Regeneration: If exposed to Shadow energy, RJ's body will recuperate even from mortal wounds at a vastly accelerated rate.
  • Limited Immortality: Due to his regenerative capabilities, RJ now ages at a much slower rate.
  • Shadow Teleportation: RJ is now able to teleport from one shadow to another.

Abilities

*Advanced astral combatant

*Extensive knowledge of biology, particularly genetics, ecology, anatomy, and toxicology

*Basic computer programming knowlege

*Basic martial arts knowledge

Strength Level

RJ possesses the strength of a normal human his size and age who engages in moderate regular exercise.

Weaknesses

RJ is frightened to use his powers to their fullest extent, scared he will hurt someone. He also can suffer from psychic backlash from exerting his powers too much. Symptoms range from nosebleeds, headaches, and disorientation to stroke, aneurysm, and death. Also, when he astral projects or possesses another person, his body is effectively an empty shell. If his body dies while his mind is elsewhere his mind will have nowhere to return to and will float about until it dissipates unless he can find another host body. If his astral form is destroyed, his body will continue on in a vegetative state.

Paraphernalia

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Equipment

• Costume enhanced with smart fibers that can withstand the strains of his power use as well as providing another degree of physical protection
• Glasses provide tactical view of objects in immediate vicinity and are activated by his thoughts. They can zoom in or out on certain parts of the battlefield and can display stats on specific objects and people.

Transportation

• Teleportation
• Skiffy One

Weapons

• Psychic blades

Trivia

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• Psynapse has a mild form of autism

Legal Stuff

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Psynapse, his likeness, concept, costume, story, etc. are property of Rhone Gore