JACK OF HEARTS (Stage 1)

JACK OF HEARTS (Stage 1)

By Firebomb

F- EX (20) H- 130

A- RM (30) K- 100

S- RM (30) R- RM

E- AM (50) P- 5

R- EX (20)

I- IN (40)

P- IN (40)

After getting dipped in his father's experimental Zero fluid, which was an efficient and (apparently) mutagenic liquid fuel, Jack was forever changed. As a result of a reaction between the Zero fluid and his alien D.N.A., Jack developed the following superhuman powers:

Zero Energy Emission: Jack can emit energy of an unknown type, which he simply calls zero energy, in a number of ways. He can use this power as a concussive blast (Force damage) or intense heat (Energy damage), at RM (30) intensity.

Armor Skin: while his powers were still emerging, Jack donned a suit of medieval armor his former father kept in his house, which somehow bonded to his skin. The Armor now provides Jack of Hearts RM (30) protection from attack.

Invulnerability to Pressure Variance: Jack also has CL. 3000 resistance to different exterior pressures, from the intense crushing power within a star's heart, to the cold vacuum of open space.

Invulnerability to Fire, Heat, and Cold Attacks: Jack has CL. 3000 resistance to fire and heat, allowing him to swim within stars with no problem. Furthermore, he is similarly protected from the cold of space.

Self Sustenance: Jack has the ability to forego food, water, and even air should it be unavailable, for an indefinite period of time.

Flight: by propelling his zero energy downwards through his hands, Jack can achieve EX flight (150 m.p.h.).

Cybernetics: Jack's brain has also absorbed an advanced device known as the scanalyzer, which has augmented his mental faculties somewhat. The device grants Jack the following cybernetic abilities:

* Total Memory: Jack can recall past sensory experiences almost perfectly, doing so at UN (100) rank.

* Fast Thinking: Jack isn't any smarter, but he does think at computer like speeds. This adds two to Jack's initiative rolls.

Limitation: Jack's power wasn't completely under control, and it could eventually grow in intensity with disastrous effects. Each week, Jack had to pass a yellow Psyche FEAT roll, lest his zero energy powers increase by +1 CS.

However, should this rank reach SH-X or greater (according to those S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists), Jack's power would explode with force powerful enough to destroy a city. This was prevented by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s neutro‑mist, which would dampen Jack's powers by 2 CS per application.

Talents: Martial arts A, B.

Contacts: Shang‑Chi, Iron Man, Spider Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thing, S.H.I.E.L.D.

JACK OF HEARTS (Stage 2)

F- EX (20) H- 155

A- RM (30) K- 110

S- RM (30) R- SH-0

E- MN (75) P- 5

R- EX (20)

I- AM (50)

P- IN (40)

Powers: Zero Energy Emission: He can use this power as a concussive blast (Force damage) or intense heat (Energy damage). By this point in his life, Jack can emit energy of up to SH-Z (500) Intensity. This is highly uncontrolled, and Jack will inflict SH-Y (200) Force / Heat damage to anyone within 1000 areas, when using his power with such force.

Invulnerability to Pressure Variance: Jack also has CL. 3000 resistance to different exterior pressures, from the intense crushing power within a star's heart, to the cold vacuum of open space.

Telepathy: like many space‑faring heroes, Jack of Hearts seems to have telepathy, of at least FB (2) rank, since he can communicate with others 'verbally', even in the depths of space.

Flight: by propelling his zero energy downwards through his hands, Jack could fly at CL. 3000 speeds (the Speed of Light). In an atmosphere, Jack could only move at MN speeds.

Self Sustenance: Jack has the ability to forego food, water, and even air should it be unavailable, for an indefinite period of time.

Cybernetics: Jack's brain has also absorbed an advanced device known as the scanalyzer, which has augmented his mental faculties somewhat. The device grants Jack the following cybernetic abilities:

* Total Memory: Jack can recall past sensory experiences almost perfectly, doing so at UN (100) rank.

* Fast Thinking: Jack isn't any smarter, but he does think at computer like speeds. This adds two to Jack's initiative rolls.

In his current state of being, Jack's power has maxed out at SH-Z intensity, and (as S.H.I.E.L.D. predicted), he is constantly emitting a tremendous amount of force at all times. He can restrict the area damage listed above to MN (75), but Jack requires a red Psyche FEAT to do so.

Talents: Martial Arts A, B.

Contacts: Shang‑Chi, Iron Man, Spider Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thing, S.H.I.E.L.D., Contraxian contacts.

JACK OF HEARTS (Stage 3)

F- EX (20) H- 155

A- RM (30) K- 110

S- RM (30) R- SH-0

E- MN (75) P- 5

R- EX (20)

I- AM (50)

P- IN (40)

Powers: Zero Energy Emission: Jack can emit energy of an unknown type, which he simply calls zero energy. Jack can use this power as a concussive blast (Force damage) or intense heat (Energy damage), at up to SH-Z (500) intensity. It has been revealed that use of his power at this level is now likely fatal.

Flight: by propelling his zero energy downwards through his hands, Jack could fly at CL. 3000 speeds (the Speed of Light). In an atmosphere, Jack can only move at MN speeds.

Invulnerability to Pressure Variance: Jack also has CL. 3000 resistance to different exterior pressures, from the intense crushing power within a star's heart, to the cold vacuum of open space.

Telepathy: like many space‑faring heroes, Jack seems to have telepathy, of at least FB (2) rank, since he can communicate with others 'verbally', even in the depths of space.

Self Sustenance: Jack has the ability to forego food, water, and even air should it be unavailable, for an indefinite period of time.

Cybernetics: Jack's brain has also absorbed an advanced device known as the scanalyzer, which has augmented his mental faculties somewhat. The device grants Jack the following cybernetic abilities:

* Total Memory: Jack can recall past sensory experiences almost perfectly, doing so at UN (100) rank.

* Fast Thinking: Jack isn't any smarter, but he does think at computer like speeds. This adds +2 to initiative.

Equipment: Armorsuit: Jack's new armor has been built by Torval, an inmate of the Anvil who is reportedly the best armorer in the Universe. The armor has been built to not only protect Jack from harm, but also controls his powers in a manner he was never capable of.

The armor provides Jack AM (50) protection from attack, as well as the following tricks with his powers:

* Power Control: Jack can meter his energy output, emitting as little or as much power as he likes, up to UN (100) intensity.

* Jack can also turn the armor 'off', thus releasing a SH-Z (500) blast of power. This has the possibility of killing him, however, so Jack doesn't do this often. If he releases all his power, he will pass out for 1d10 turns, and must pass a yellow Endurance FEAT or he will die.

Limitation: Jack's power is completely out of control, which is why he sought out the Silver Surfer for help. Without his armor, Jack's power will steadily increase in intensity (as described in stage 1), and he will begin to fall apart once he reaches SH-Z (500) rank.

At that rank, his Endurance rank will drop by ‑1 CS each day, until he hits SH-0, unless he can make a red Endurance FEAT; this will stave off the Endurance loss for one day. This gives him only a little time to recover his armor (or another means of salvation).

Talents: Martial Arts A, B, Astronomy.

Contacts: Shang‑Chi, Iron Man, Spider Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thing, S.H.I.E.L.D., Contraxians, Silver

Surfer, Torval the armorer, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator, and Ganymede.

STORY: Jack Hart is the son of chemist Philip Hart and a mysterious female alien, later identified as a Contraxian (?). The alien was on a mission from her home world (as were many of her fellows) to find an energy source capable of restoring her world's dying sun.

She learned of Hart's chemical experiments, and (assuming a human form) getting to know him better, ended up having a kid with the human, somehow. She mysteriously 'died' several years later, in a car wreck, and Phillip and Jack (their son) got on with their lives.

Phillip eventually perfected a compound he has been developing all these years, the zero fluid, an ultra‑efficient liquid fuel source. Philip was going to offer the secrets of zero fluid to all the free governments of the earth, but this never occurred, thanks to the Corporation.

Agents of the Corporation also learned of Hart's fluid, and wanted to buy it for their own purposes. Hart refused to sell, and right after, Corporation thugs led by the mercenary Stryke killed him. Fleeing to the basement, Jack hid in his father's laboratory.

The Corporation thugs fired into the lab at Jack, rupturing the tanks of zero fluid, which promptly released the stuff all over him. The corrosive fluid (perhaps combined with his alien D.N.A.), wrought a change in Jack, releasing explosive energy, killed the Corporation assassins.

Vowing vengeance, Jack donned a suit of medieval armor his father kept in the house (which somehow bonded to his skin), and went after the Corporation. Thinking for a bit, Jack adopted the name Jack of Hearts, an

homage to his father's love of card games.

Royally angry, Jack attacked the Corporation indiscriminately, and many others got caught in the crossfire, including the White Tiger. Jack eventually tracked down Stryke (who somehow escaped their first encounter), and got on with his life.

Several adventures later, after meeting folks such as Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man, Jack ended up a S.H.I.E.L.D. trainee, since the group held him for a time to contain his powers, using a neutro‑mist they'd developed for just that purpose.

While with S.H.I.E.L.D., Jack met a former classmate, who revealed that his mom was a Contraxian, aliens trying to fix their dying sun. His old friend then identified herself as a Contraxian, herself, and took Jack to her home world, Contraxia, to do so. Contraxia?

While there, Jack had a couple misadventures with local cults and other weirdo aliens, but eventually went to the Contraxian star. Releasing the full extent of his power, Jack somehow managed to recharge it. Done with the deed, Jack returned to Contraxia for a time, causing havoc.

His energies inflicted some mayhem on the Contraxian biosphere, melting polar caps from heat, etc. Saying good bye to his Contraxian gal pal, Jack yelled at the morally ambiguous aliens for a bit, and then left for the stars.

Some time later, Jack ran afoul of the Stranger, who kept him in his gallery of oddities for some time, until he (and many others) were freed by Quasar. Jack made for earth, but his powers threatened to do his home serious harm, until Quasar and the Presence stopped him.

Left for dead in space (it looked like the Presence killed him), Jack was collected by Moondragon, and made her servant for a time. He eventually regained his freedom, as Moondragon joined the Infinity Watch.

Jack went home for a bit, trying to regain control of his powers, but he failed, and his own powers began to rip his body apart. Fleeing again for space, Jack ran into the Silver Surfer, who promised (after a short scuffle) to help him out.

The heroes traveled to the Anvil, a penal colony on the planed cataloged as Annoval 14 by those who used it. The Surfer knew of a prisoner within that could help them, a prisoner who was reportedly the 'best' armorer in the universe.

After persuading Torval to help Jack, the Silver Surfer got caught in a jailbreak attempt by Nebula, who wanted to free her locked up crew from terminal incarceration. Though the criminals almost got away, Jack arrived in his new armor to save the day.

Although Nebula got away, the other prisoners were kept from getting escape (no thanks to Nebula, who incinerated them trying to get away from Jack and the Surfer). Jack thanked the Silver Surfer for his help, and

once again made for the stars.

Jack later ran afoul of another powerful villain, this time the evil Tyrant. He and several other cosmic heroes were meant to fuel power for Tyrant's Fortress, but Jack saved the day by opening up his full powers. While this almost killed him, it allowed the others to escape.

Though Jack couldn't help in the conflict with Tyrant, his selfless action allowed the others time to battle the villain until Galactus arrived to end it. Until he healed from the exertion of his powers, Jack was cared for by Ganymede, sworn enemy of Tyrant.