Section Eight

The Lancaster College of Arts and Sciences Variant Studies program is the best in the United states, and perhaps the best in the world. Variants from across the US attend this institution, receiving instruction and guidance on the proper use of their powers, both physically and morally. Each graduating class bonds together in its own way, and invariably gets into its own brand of trouble. One of the current classes at Lancaster is the class of 1991, who have taken their name from the code the school gave them: they are Variant Studies 117, Section Eight.
    Unlike most of the students in Lancaster's program, most of Section Eight is actively considering careers as professional variant adventurers; most others just want control, and then jobs making use of them in some mildly beneficial, or at least non-criminal, way. Not these guys: for them, it's the Show or nothing. This attitude has led them to attain a semi-pro status, helped by Talon's ties with Taurus Industries and their favorable first impressions with Prest Industries and the Justice Defenders. Still only amateurs, they're being quietly nudged to the big time by some major players.

Warped Warrior
An Alpha grade martial artist and Epsilon grade dilettante, Jason Dressel is an Art Major, singer, womanizer, warrior and hero. His variant powers are focused around an inexplicable warp field that not only negates electromagnetic and other energy on contact, but rapidly heals El Warpo from wounds. The most prone among the group to take damage, Warped Warrior is also the group's spirit, with his love of life coupled with his artists sensitivity. He is the official hero of Cancun.

Talon
Originally Taurus Industries Series 4, Model 4 android, a mystical event at the Taurus plant in Brazil changed her into a humanoid avian biological android. After the company discovered her sentience, she was named Vivian, and adopted by Anthony Taurus just before he became Mayor of New York. She has several avian features, including wings and the claws of her namesake, as well as computer-intellect and high-tech endurance.

Arclight
Yelena Goukhbarg is a Russian immigrant, and just discovered that her father was the missing Soviet Variant code named Fugitive. She inherited powers similar to other descendents of the Rainfall Project: the manipulation of electrical energy for fight, attack, strength, speed and intangibility. The Soviets have made at least one attempt to return her to the motherland, but it is unlikely they will try again. Her original code name was Death Penalty.

Shriekback
Chris Dutton is a low-Epsilon variant and brother to Gypsy. He is the least heroic member of Section Eight, but follows the lead of his sister and girlfriend (Arclight), and has flashes of heroic ability. He can enhance & alter sonic energy in apparently limitless ways, his sound-enhanced bio-aura makes him effectively invulnerable, and he has a variant intellect channeled into the physical sciences.

Gypsy
A low Epsilon class variant like her brother, Shriekback, she shares his variant intellect, but also variant presence and willpower, and a vast array of psionic abilities, from teleportation to mind control. While she originally took the affairs of heroing lightly, with the farcical name Excellent Woman, recent experiences have deepened both her wisdom and resolve.

Skywalker
After spending a semester as Jimmy Olsen to Warped Warrior's Superman, Lancaster student Daniel Abraham followed El Warpo on vacation to the Black Dragon Monastery, where events revealed his own variant powers of empathy and telekinesis. Modeling himself after a Jedi, he joined the team and has become the most dedicated member. His powers are subtle but impressive; in combat he uses his telekinesis to manifest a psionic sword which ignores most armor.

Fletcher
When his variant powers first emerged, the shock and pain nearly drove John Fletcher mad, sending him on a rampage through Harborview. Saved by Section Eight, he joined their ranks, replacing the absent Warped Warrior. Fletcher constantly absorbs kinetic energy, enhancing it and redirecting it to strength and energy blasts, His powers are monitored by a suit built by Lancaster Grad Student/TA Simon Barr and Shriekback, and without it he is in incredible pain.

Abigail
The Ghost that lives in S8's former frat house headquarters (which Skywalker has dubbed Psi-Phi) Abigail is the spirit of a sixteen year old girl who died there years ago and who's death was covered up. Freed from her ghostly bondage by Dan before he got his powers, she has stayed in our world to explore her hidden feelings for him.

Simon Barr
Variant genius and master in the esoteric studies of time travel physics, Simon is the TA for Variant Studies 117, as well as a friend and advisor to Section Eight and a kidnapping target by some of their enemies. He provides technical support to the team, but still grades their papers fairly.

| Top |