CITY OF HEROES - PINNACLE SERVER'S
The SOLUS Foundation 
ARCTIC KESTREL

Registered Name: Arctic Kestrel Secret Identity: Randal Tousseau Origin: Mutation Archetype: Blaster Primary Power Set: Sonic Blast Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation While Lazon and the rest of the SOLUS Collective were busy trying to stop a nuclear meltdown in Terra Volta, Eric Moore, also known as the energy blaster "Energy Blastion," and his fiancée Nicole Tousseau, AKA the lovely defender "Empathy," were playfully conceiving a son - while on top of the failing reactor.  History recorded them as part of the heroic team that helped save Independence Port.  Years later, the rest of the Collective simply chuckled at the…misconception.

The son born of that fiery coupling, Brandon, didn't appreciate the humor, at least not as the undersized, geeky, glowing blue-eyed and green-haired child who had been mutated by the radiation while only a few cells old – inheriting aspects of both his parents’ powers.  He grew up rebellious and frustrated at his teen idol parents.  It wasn't until they died heroically alongside their SOLUS Collective companions during the Rikti War that Brandon saw them, and their lifestyle, in a different light. 

It was then that he vowed to live up to what he thought would be their hopes for him.  Donning a blue and green jumpsuit, all he could afford, he tried to become a hero like his parents.  Flying, fighting, and studying side-by-side with his girlfriend, Riane Vendaval, Brandon eventually adapted to the loss of his parents and moved on, happy again. 

Almost two years later, a run in with the Circle of Thorns changed his life yet again.  Soloing on what was supposed to be a simple recon mission, Brandon stumbled upon the ritual summoning of a pair of higher level spectral demons – one Nerva, commanding the power of cold, and one with sonic powers he’d never seen.  Caught in battle he couldn’t win, the hero known as Empathy’s Child used the last of his strength in a desperate gambit, loosing a devastating energy blast while, at the same time, concentrating on drawing healing energy from his foes.

When he woke up, days later, laying beside the maggot-infested bodies of Circle minions, he’d changed.  Not only had he manifested demon wings, but his parents’ powers of energy and healing were gone.  It wasn’t long after – as he battled to escape the depths of Orenbaga – he discovered his new abilities, sonic and cold mutations similar to that of the demons that were, apparently, banished by his desperate blast.

Once he finally made it home, he found he could control the size and shape of his wings, just as he learned he could control his new powers.  Instead of ‘Empathy’s Child’ the name across the file tab of his SOLUS Foundation file, reads ‘Arctic Kestrel.’  His new orange, white, and blue-toned uniform suggests a reference to the American Kestrel, a small bird of prey – perhaps a cousin.  But, a Google of the name won’t help.  The bird simply doesn’t exist.  For now, both his new gifts as well as his name remain a mystery, even to himself.

"The SOLUS Foundation" © 2006 Out of the Clouds.  "City of Heroes" "NCSoft" "Cryptic Studios" ®  All rights reserved.  "The SOLUS Foundation is a not-for-profit fan site and is not sponsored by City of Heroes, NCSoft, or Cryptic.  Contact dalghryn at charter.net with questions or comments.