Post by senator on Jun 18, 2012 17:18:56 GMT -5
Basics: Johnson, Nicholas.
Full Name: Nicholas Galahad Johnson.
Codename: None.
Nicknames: Old Nick, The Director.
Role: Staff NPC (Incultus)
Type: Original.
Gender: Male.
Species: Homo sapiens
Age: 49
Date of Birth: May 4.
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona.
Current Residence: Washington, D.C.
Loyalty: Weapon Plus.
Occupation: Senior Senator from New York; Director of Weapon Plus.
Hair Colour: Black, touched with grey.
Eye Colour: Brown.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Body Type: Fit, slightly muscular.
Typical Style: Formal business.
Distinguishing Features: None.
Physical Mutations: Not applicable.
Uniform: As Director, Nicholas always wears a formal three-piece suit, consisting of trousers, dress shirt, waist coat, and jacket, together with a necktie. All of these articles, except the shirt, are black. They are also all made of a synthetic fibre which provides some protection and is fire retardant. The dress shoes which complete the outfit are also reinforced with metal.
Personality: Nicholas Johnson is a man of the world, cultivated and calculating. He exudes charisma, always charming, calm, and confident. As a politician, he has been careful to keep his image one of compassion and concern for the less privileged in society, using both the legislation he drafts or sponsors and significant donations to charity.
Of course, he is a politician. Quite a crafty one really, though like all politicians he keeps most of his dealings out of the limelight. Very few people truly realise just what he is capable of, however. Senator Johnson has very few scruples behind his cultured veneer, being willing to do almost anything to achieve his plans -- and remain charming while doing it. Indeed he enjoys pitting his wits against others, and is not abashed if he finds someone to be a worthy rival.
As for his plans? Johnson's ambition has no true end; the more power he attains, the higher the stakes he plays for. What began for him as a struggle to rise out of poverty has become a game he plays for its own sake; wealth and influence is just a way to keep score. Of course he enjoys wealth and influence; who doesn't? Yet the only real goal he pursues with true passion is immortality. After all, what good is the world if he isn't around to enjoy it?
Nonetheless, Nicholas is not completely evil. He divides people into two categories: friends, and resources. Those who fall into the latter category he has no problem using, but like any good manager he nurtures his resources -- he will not break trust without need, and he is extremely loathe to kill anybody off. His true friends are very rare, but he shows a surprising loyalty to them (of course, a true friend would also support his interests, so there wouldn't be any reason to be disloyal, would there?). Even with his enemies, he is always sure to repay a favour; and, as a leader, he is quicker with rewards than with punishments. "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Family:
- Victor Carouso Johnson; father; retired (formerly a janitor); 69
- Ursula Una Johnson (née Black); mother; retired (formerly fast food team member); 68
- Dorothy "Gwen" Guinevere Almoner (née Johnson); little sister; auto mechanic; 38
- Simon Paul Almoner; brother-in-law; auto store owner; 40
- Sister's children and gradnchild
History: Although born in Flagstaff, Nicholas only spent one month of his life there. His father had just found a new job in Phoenix, and so the family moved to the state capital. Nick grew up in the southwest, displaying intelligence and a knack for leadership. By the time he graduated high school he was a well-known figure in the community, and it came as no surprise that he became involved in local politics.
He worked in the offices of the city, helping pay his way through Phoenix College together with scholarships. However, after he graduated, he took employment as a manager in a national investment firm. Rising through the ranks, he eventually moved to Albany, New York, ostensibly to be closer to his corporation's headquarters in New York City.
In reality, however, he was looking to get back into politics. The interior of the southwest did not appeal to him as a springboard for a national career, but the Empire State? That was a different matter. He made an attempt for State Treasurer shortly after his arrival; he was defeated due to his youth, but he gained recognition in the state. In the next election, he attained the office of Lieutenant Governor. In the course of his work he made himself well-known, not just to New Yorkers but to anyone paying attention to eastern politics.
That was, however, just the beginning. In 1990, at the age of twenty-nine, he entered national politics as he ran for Representative. His declaration of candidacy took everyone by surprise, as it had been expected he would aim for governor next. Perhaps because of this he swept his district, and was sworn into his first national office in 1991.
In the House he made a name for himself as a supporter of both welfare legislation and fiscal responsibility. A cogent and charismatic speaker, he became something of a name on the Hill, although the House was not in the public eye enough for the nation to take much note of him -- yet.
As the 2000 election cycle neared, another issue began to absorb the public's attention. Mutants were becoming increasingly prominent, and Senator Kelly was pushing his initial version of the Mutant Registration Act. When it first came before the House, the Honourable Nicholas Johnson organized the resistance, and saw to it being defeated. However, he then left the capital in order to run his campaign for Senator.
During the debates in New York, his opposition to the bill -- now gaining in popularity -- came up, and he made his stance clear. He did not believe in discrimination against mutants, and felt that Kelly's bill was too harsh; but he did believe mutants should register their powers as part of their duties as citizens, just as anyone else with a deadly weapon had to be registered and licensed.
Although his stance was not popular at the time, his personality and well-funded campaign did bring him a narrow victory. He went on to vote against the final version of the original MRA when it came before the Senate, but his vote was part of only a small dissent and it passed, subsequently signed into law.
The years passed. He served out his first term and was reelected. During this time he did not do much of interest to the public, though he remained a respected figure in Washington and at home in New York. Then, suddenly, his name shot up like a rocket, fuelled by the controversies surrounding the exposure of Weapon Plus and the Purifier attacks. Taking advantage of the situation, he forged an alliance for the support of a tremendous piece of legislation: a complete overhaul of the MRA that would create a new bureaucracy for the express benefit of mutants. Thus he managed to lay the foundation for his vision of a world where mutants and humans worked together for the greater good.
Unbeknownst to the larger world, however, he himself had long been involved in Weapon Plus. From his days as a Representative, his views on "making use" of mutants had become known to Sublime, and the mastermind of the clandestine agency had approached him, sounded him out, and ultimately inducted him into the select cabal of politicians that provided funding and cover for the Program.
For years Johnson had lived this double life; friend to mutants in public, funder of brutal experimentation on them in secret. What Sublime did not know, however, was that Johnson vehemently disapproved of his methods, and of the pointless infighting between the directors. The Representative, now Senator, was gathering information on them all, even as he made use of Weapon's facilities to bolster himself.
For Johnson was not content to be a mere human. Weapon, to him, was the key to attaining something politics never could: divinity. Especially, immortality. He loved power and wealth, but he knew that death would take it all away from him -- unless he could defeat death. In exchange for securing funding and secrecy (and befriending some of the resident scientists), he got to set the direction for some of the research, and the first thing he requested was anti-telepath technology.
After a good deal of trial and error, Johnson was eventually given what he sought. A headband was fused to his skull that would block out all kinds of telepathy. Soon thereafter, he set up his plans to reform Weapon, to purge it of the needless cruelty and corruption, and place himself firmly in charge.
It was his agents that gave the tips that led to the exposure of Weapon. He it was who leaked Sublime's location to a new Brotherhood, resulting in the man's death before he could bring the senator down with him. And he was the one to arrange the rescue of Colcord, in exchange for the formula to the man's regeneration serum.
So everything came together. Public outrage over the concentration camp and inhumane experiments buttressed his rhetoric and contributed to the passage of his reformed MRA, and he now had his own private laboratory. He has been pursuing both vigourously, interspersing visits to the new Weapon facility with public appearances to keep up support for his reform.
Classification: Zeta (Beta)
Powers:
- Telepathic Immunity: Granted him by a "headband" that was fused to his skull by Weapon scientists. The band is very thin, so that it is not visible beneath the skin, but it is over an inch wide, encircling his forehead, temples and the back of his skull. The technology in the band shields his mind from all telepathy, from any source, regardless of intent. Attempted telepathic contact produces a twinge; prolonged or powerful assaults may induce headaches, but the band will remain functional except under the most extreme conditions (should the band's powers ever fail, it will simply shut down, with minimal backlash to Johnson).
- Regeneration: A moderate healing factor granted him by Colcord's serum. Any damage to his body will be restored at an increased speed, and it is enough to save him from all but lethal injury.
Skills:
- Politics and Leadership: Johnson has spent most of his life obtaining and exercising power.
- Oratory: The Senator is a compelling speaker with much experience.
- Marksman: Uses a handgun for personal defense and rifles for hunting; he is a fair shot with both.
- Martial Arts: Johnson has trained in karate for physical fitness and enjoyment, only recently for true combat, so he is middling but improving.
Weaponry: Normally carries a concealed handgun with him, for which he has a license.
Role Play Sample: "Friends and fellow citizens."[/color]
From the podium the Senator commanded the room. He was calm, confident; he seemed to make eye contact with every person in the audience while at the same time not focusing on any individual. His voice, friendly and filled with conviction, resonated through the room with only the slightest amplification.
"I come before you tonight to ask for your support for the reform of the Mutant Registration Act."[/color] He noticed a collective cringe pass through a segment of the audience: mutants already registered, who were worried what the reform would mean for them. Whether the words pricked that fear, or reminded them of the humiliation implicit in registration, he was not sure; it did not matter, really. Either way he hoped to soothe their feelings, together with that of the rest of his audience.
He saw the other groups too: the anti-mutants, seated well away from the registrants; the supporters of the legislation, in the middle; and, scattered around the fringes, people he guessed were unregistered mutants whose hope and curiosity and had mastered their fear of being caught. Truly brave, as security was tight.
"The vote has been scheduled for one week from today,"[/color] he continued, "and we need to make our Congress realize that this is the will of the people."[/color] Murmurs form the contingents opposed ot the bill. Johnson smiled. "Maybe they are not the only ones who need convincing. But as I look out on you, I see clearly how the new law will benefit each of you, and our great nation as a whole. All I ask is that you do not close your hearts, as I lay out my vision of an America free of the suspicion and hatred that has divided her for too long.
"Before I go further, I wish to apologise for the unusual level of security. Perhaps some of you may have recognized the gentleman around me -"[/color] he nodded to four men in dark suits who guarded the podium "- as Secret Service agents, a dignity not usually accorded to Senators. However, in view of the importance of this legislature, and the fact that I, as the originator, have not only had multiple death threats from both mutant and anti-mutant extremists, but suffered two assassination att-"
He was interrupted by the sound of firing from outside the stage. The agents drew their weapons, and Johnson ducked down behind the podium without needing to be told. Right on cue.[/color] The assassination attempt had not been staged; it was real from the point of view of the Friends of humanity undertaking it. The government had caught on, however, and with Johnson's clearance they had nursed the little conspiracy along. It was a handy little way to underline just what the stakes were.
Full Name: Nicholas Galahad Johnson.
Codename: None.
Nicknames: Old Nick, The Director.
Role: Staff NPC (Incultus)
Type: Original.
Gender: Male.
Species: Homo sapiens
Age: 49
Date of Birth: May 4.
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona.
Current Residence: Washington, D.C.
Loyalty: Weapon Plus.
Occupation: Senior Senator from New York; Director of Weapon Plus.
Hair Colour: Black, touched with grey.
Eye Colour: Brown.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Body Type: Fit, slightly muscular.
Typical Style: Formal business.
Distinguishing Features: None.
Physical Mutations: Not applicable.
Uniform: As Director, Nicholas always wears a formal three-piece suit, consisting of trousers, dress shirt, waist coat, and jacket, together with a necktie. All of these articles, except the shirt, are black. They are also all made of a synthetic fibre which provides some protection and is fire retardant. The dress shoes which complete the outfit are also reinforced with metal.
Personality: Nicholas Johnson is a man of the world, cultivated and calculating. He exudes charisma, always charming, calm, and confident. As a politician, he has been careful to keep his image one of compassion and concern for the less privileged in society, using both the legislation he drafts or sponsors and significant donations to charity.
Of course, he is a politician. Quite a crafty one really, though like all politicians he keeps most of his dealings out of the limelight. Very few people truly realise just what he is capable of, however. Senator Johnson has very few scruples behind his cultured veneer, being willing to do almost anything to achieve his plans -- and remain charming while doing it. Indeed he enjoys pitting his wits against others, and is not abashed if he finds someone to be a worthy rival.
As for his plans? Johnson's ambition has no true end; the more power he attains, the higher the stakes he plays for. What began for him as a struggle to rise out of poverty has become a game he plays for its own sake; wealth and influence is just a way to keep score. Of course he enjoys wealth and influence; who doesn't? Yet the only real goal he pursues with true passion is immortality. After all, what good is the world if he isn't around to enjoy it?
Nonetheless, Nicholas is not completely evil. He divides people into two categories: friends, and resources. Those who fall into the latter category he has no problem using, but like any good manager he nurtures his resources -- he will not break trust without need, and he is extremely loathe to kill anybody off. His true friends are very rare, but he shows a surprising loyalty to them (of course, a true friend would also support his interests, so there wouldn't be any reason to be disloyal, would there?). Even with his enemies, he is always sure to repay a favour; and, as a leader, he is quicker with rewards than with punishments. "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Family:
- Victor Carouso Johnson; father; retired (formerly a janitor); 69
- Ursula Una Johnson (née Black); mother; retired (formerly fast food team member); 68
- Dorothy "Gwen" Guinevere Almoner (née Johnson); little sister; auto mechanic; 38
- Simon Paul Almoner; brother-in-law; auto store owner; 40
- Sister's children and gradnchild
History: Although born in Flagstaff, Nicholas only spent one month of his life there. His father had just found a new job in Phoenix, and so the family moved to the state capital. Nick grew up in the southwest, displaying intelligence and a knack for leadership. By the time he graduated high school he was a well-known figure in the community, and it came as no surprise that he became involved in local politics.
He worked in the offices of the city, helping pay his way through Phoenix College together with scholarships. However, after he graduated, he took employment as a manager in a national investment firm. Rising through the ranks, he eventually moved to Albany, New York, ostensibly to be closer to his corporation's headquarters in New York City.
In reality, however, he was looking to get back into politics. The interior of the southwest did not appeal to him as a springboard for a national career, but the Empire State? That was a different matter. He made an attempt for State Treasurer shortly after his arrival; he was defeated due to his youth, but he gained recognition in the state. In the next election, he attained the office of Lieutenant Governor. In the course of his work he made himself well-known, not just to New Yorkers but to anyone paying attention to eastern politics.
That was, however, just the beginning. In 1990, at the age of twenty-nine, he entered national politics as he ran for Representative. His declaration of candidacy took everyone by surprise, as it had been expected he would aim for governor next. Perhaps because of this he swept his district, and was sworn into his first national office in 1991.
In the House he made a name for himself as a supporter of both welfare legislation and fiscal responsibility. A cogent and charismatic speaker, he became something of a name on the Hill, although the House was not in the public eye enough for the nation to take much note of him -- yet.
As the 2000 election cycle neared, another issue began to absorb the public's attention. Mutants were becoming increasingly prominent, and Senator Kelly was pushing his initial version of the Mutant Registration Act. When it first came before the House, the Honourable Nicholas Johnson organized the resistance, and saw to it being defeated. However, he then left the capital in order to run his campaign for Senator.
During the debates in New York, his opposition to the bill -- now gaining in popularity -- came up, and he made his stance clear. He did not believe in discrimination against mutants, and felt that Kelly's bill was too harsh; but he did believe mutants should register their powers as part of their duties as citizens, just as anyone else with a deadly weapon had to be registered and licensed.
Although his stance was not popular at the time, his personality and well-funded campaign did bring him a narrow victory. He went on to vote against the final version of the original MRA when it came before the Senate, but his vote was part of only a small dissent and it passed, subsequently signed into law.
The years passed. He served out his first term and was reelected. During this time he did not do much of interest to the public, though he remained a respected figure in Washington and at home in New York. Then, suddenly, his name shot up like a rocket, fuelled by the controversies surrounding the exposure of Weapon Plus and the Purifier attacks. Taking advantage of the situation, he forged an alliance for the support of a tremendous piece of legislation: a complete overhaul of the MRA that would create a new bureaucracy for the express benefit of mutants. Thus he managed to lay the foundation for his vision of a world where mutants and humans worked together for the greater good.
Unbeknownst to the larger world, however, he himself had long been involved in Weapon Plus. From his days as a Representative, his views on "making use" of mutants had become known to Sublime, and the mastermind of the clandestine agency had approached him, sounded him out, and ultimately inducted him into the select cabal of politicians that provided funding and cover for the Program.
For years Johnson had lived this double life; friend to mutants in public, funder of brutal experimentation on them in secret. What Sublime did not know, however, was that Johnson vehemently disapproved of his methods, and of the pointless infighting between the directors. The Representative, now Senator, was gathering information on them all, even as he made use of Weapon's facilities to bolster himself.
For Johnson was not content to be a mere human. Weapon, to him, was the key to attaining something politics never could: divinity. Especially, immortality. He loved power and wealth, but he knew that death would take it all away from him -- unless he could defeat death. In exchange for securing funding and secrecy (and befriending some of the resident scientists), he got to set the direction for some of the research, and the first thing he requested was anti-telepath technology.
After a good deal of trial and error, Johnson was eventually given what he sought. A headband was fused to his skull that would block out all kinds of telepathy. Soon thereafter, he set up his plans to reform Weapon, to purge it of the needless cruelty and corruption, and place himself firmly in charge.
It was his agents that gave the tips that led to the exposure of Weapon. He it was who leaked Sublime's location to a new Brotherhood, resulting in the man's death before he could bring the senator down with him. And he was the one to arrange the rescue of Colcord, in exchange for the formula to the man's regeneration serum.
So everything came together. Public outrage over the concentration camp and inhumane experiments buttressed his rhetoric and contributed to the passage of his reformed MRA, and he now had his own private laboratory. He has been pursuing both vigourously, interspersing visits to the new Weapon facility with public appearances to keep up support for his reform.
Classification: Zeta (Beta)
Powers:
- Telepathic Immunity: Granted him by a "headband" that was fused to his skull by Weapon scientists. The band is very thin, so that it is not visible beneath the skin, but it is over an inch wide, encircling his forehead, temples and the back of his skull. The technology in the band shields his mind from all telepathy, from any source, regardless of intent. Attempted telepathic contact produces a twinge; prolonged or powerful assaults may induce headaches, but the band will remain functional except under the most extreme conditions (should the band's powers ever fail, it will simply shut down, with minimal backlash to Johnson).
- Regeneration: A moderate healing factor granted him by Colcord's serum. Any damage to his body will be restored at an increased speed, and it is enough to save him from all but lethal injury.
Skills:
- Politics and Leadership: Johnson has spent most of his life obtaining and exercising power.
- Oratory: The Senator is a compelling speaker with much experience.
- Marksman: Uses a handgun for personal defense and rifles for hunting; he is a fair shot with both.
- Martial Arts: Johnson has trained in karate for physical fitness and enjoyment, only recently for true combat, so he is middling but improving.
Weaponry: Normally carries a concealed handgun with him, for which he has a license.
Role Play Sample: "Friends and fellow citizens."[/color]
From the podium the Senator commanded the room. He was calm, confident; he seemed to make eye contact with every person in the audience while at the same time not focusing on any individual. His voice, friendly and filled with conviction, resonated through the room with only the slightest amplification.
"I come before you tonight to ask for your support for the reform of the Mutant Registration Act."[/color] He noticed a collective cringe pass through a segment of the audience: mutants already registered, who were worried what the reform would mean for them. Whether the words pricked that fear, or reminded them of the humiliation implicit in registration, he was not sure; it did not matter, really. Either way he hoped to soothe their feelings, together with that of the rest of his audience.
He saw the other groups too: the anti-mutants, seated well away from the registrants; the supporters of the legislation, in the middle; and, scattered around the fringes, people he guessed were unregistered mutants whose hope and curiosity and had mastered their fear of being caught. Truly brave, as security was tight.
"The vote has been scheduled for one week from today,"[/color] he continued, "and we need to make our Congress realize that this is the will of the people."[/color] Murmurs form the contingents opposed ot the bill. Johnson smiled. "Maybe they are not the only ones who need convincing. But as I look out on you, I see clearly how the new law will benefit each of you, and our great nation as a whole. All I ask is that you do not close your hearts, as I lay out my vision of an America free of the suspicion and hatred that has divided her for too long.
"Before I go further, I wish to apologise for the unusual level of security. Perhaps some of you may have recognized the gentleman around me -"[/color] he nodded to four men in dark suits who guarded the podium "- as Secret Service agents, a dignity not usually accorded to Senators. However, in view of the importance of this legislature, and the fact that I, as the originator, have not only had multiple death threats from both mutant and anti-mutant extremists, but suffered two assassination att-"
He was interrupted by the sound of firing from outside the stage. The agents drew their weapons, and Johnson ducked down behind the podium without needing to be told. Right on cue.[/color] The assassination attempt had not been staged; it was real from the point of view of the Friends of humanity undertaking it. The government had caught on, however, and with Johnson's clearance they had nursed the little conspiracy along. It was a handy little way to underline just what the stakes were.