Tempered Grace

Novara is a product of an experiment. S.P.A.N.C.C was trying to cultivate - created, curated humanity. The intent was to be able to produce children on demand, without needing humans to carry the children and with the ability for partners/groups etc, to pick and choose the traits they wanted their children to possess, among those that are deemed conducive to society (the ‘choice’ exists to ensure diversity). So Novara, was the first and (for the time being) only synthetic child. The limit was because this was a very costly endeavor and S.P.A.N.C.C wanted to follow her as she grew and developed to ensure that she remained viable before making such an option accessible to select public and wider. Novara Ricci - (Named so since she was picked out of the mobile incubator in Sector 0 Region 3 (Italy). She is a baby with no biological parents, including the phase of embryological development, she was incubated entirely outside of the human body. Her genetic data is curated from a whole host of people after extensive research. The choices were made by Wezen Franz and Cepheus Cygnus (at the steep incline of their careers), with the additional goal to create an ‘ideal and accessible human’ so she may also serve as an advertisement, if and when the process was deemed safe and ready to use. She was meant to be someone, who, according to the two of them , embodied the very spirit of empathetic humanity and was easily relatable. Her early upbringing, till about five, was by humanoid AIs and occasionally by the community of scientists, researchers and doctors that operated them. Having this somewhat unusual experience did leave her slightly introverted, which was a little off the original goal. Noticing this change, they decided it was time to enrol her in the Sector 0 G.C.A as an ‘orphan’. She and people around her were fed the story that her mother died during child-birth due to some very unexpected complication and her father was not found. She was enrolled in the academy with the intent to make her more comfortable around her other her age. Though she was the pinnacle of kindness (and health) more often than not, she did not seek the company of other children. Instead, growing up, Nova felt driven and compelled to solve the issues that remain amidst humanity and spent a lot of time studying and doing research regarding sickness. She was quickly labeled a prodigy. Her genetic material had been loaded with substantial potential for intelligence, so while this was not a surprise, this was also not the initial expectation. However, given her proclivities, her curiosities and research was encouraged and she was given all the resources to better her education. While she was also physically trained alongside other G.C.A students, it quickly became apparent that she lacked the killer and competitive instinct required to excel in that domain, she did however quickly pick up the basics of self-defence and core-strength training (when lured with the concept of it being used protectively, not just for herself but for others). However, given her tendency to ‘do good’ she was picked as a target to groom to become a SpecSyn agent. Though the kept a wary distance and getting her to admit her strange history, gave SpecSyn some intel on her origins and the kind of things S.P.A.N.C.C was developing. She did closely get involved with SpecSyn by her own volition, because they seemed to be aligned with making things better as well. Eventually, she graduated G.C.A and entered G.C.U under the umbrella of Crux, in order to improve access to healthcare particularly for other on-field Acers. However, she was certainly under the impression that her experiments and research would (eventually) aid all of humanity. She and Ezekiel entered a formal romantic relationship. She was drawn to the way he seemed to need… help and support, that she thought she could provide, in addition to that Mark (from SpecSyn, and also Jared’s handler) also encouraged her close contact with Ezekiel and the Pyxis family. While at G.C.U Nova also started working under

Alcyone Viser - a being who in some ways starkly contrasted with Novara philosophically, but was a visionary researcher as well. Working under Alcyone allowed her to improve upon the Shealing (wound sealing and healing) serum, to start developing an Advanced Shealing Serum - Abbreviated A.S.S. Nova tested her serum (very very reluctantly) on synthetically generated tissue and rodents. She was still not convinced that her revolutionary development was ready to be mass-produced, simply because the side-effect included excruciating unavoidable pain - and she was convinced that given enough some more time, she could get rid of it.

Novara Ricci bears the burden of a simple motivation: Save people. From hurt, from pain, from suffering, and even from death. But most crucially, sometimes from themselves.

Novara dedicates copious amounts of time to achieving her goal as literally as she can. Her ability to process information that will aid her in this venture, is off the scales. She’s generally sharp, but her genius is particularly amped when something that she is studying has a potential application in her field. Given the right guidance and resources, she certainly would be a major pioneer as a researcher. On a smaller scale, she already is. Her relationship with her work is devotional and pure. She is not conscious of mistakes or judgement and surrenders to the iterative process towards perfection - And yes, on some levels, she believes perfection is achievable. She is not too picky about where she gains her knowledge from and will never deny it. But given the opportunity she is very picky about how she uses her own. The only thing that distracts her from learning, theorising and experiment, is actively helping other people. She will always put aside her ambitions temporarily if she has the opportunity to help someone through her practice. Her skills and instincts combined make her an excellent and attentive medic. She’s keenly empathetic and takes a great interest in her patients. Though she is warm, she avoids getting too attached, for good reason. She fears attachment will exhaust her - which it will because all her usual tendencies are exacerbated for friends. However, she is rarely cold and clinical. Friendship and other relationships are a very intense bond. She’s invested, involved and loyal to a fault. The process of giving up on her personal goals, becomes more apparent for friends too. Novara will easily make drastic decisions involving her own life if she sees an opportunity to help or save someone she is attached to - Even if this lands her in inconvenient or detrimental situations.

While she’s not totally impulsive, she’s also not someone who will plan extensively. A loose plan of action is enough for her to jump in. This is because she doesn’t care to consider all outcomes. She just believes that there will be a good one... eventually. She has a deep-seated sense of hope. Her ability to continue hoping even through dire circumstances often becomes a pillar of strength.

Novara also believes in the good of people generally. She focuses on the positives of individuals and of groups. She certainly isn’t blind to the bad, but will glaze over it. It takes a lot of blatant evil for her to think someone or a group is irredeemable - and even then, she'll give them a shot more than once. It takes even more for her to hate and it can be easily reversed. If the body can be injured, so can the soul... and both can be repaired. She sees evil action and intention as symptoms of an underlying problem, something that can be fixed… In time, she has gathered that she can’t do it all. She can just try. Fix people and the world one at a time.

Tariq has three set philosophies: Actions speak louder than words Try everything (terms and conditions loosely apply) - at least once. All creatures (sentient beings anyway) are created equal Tariq witnessed his family struggle for principles against an oppressive system. Tariq also saw them all be consumed by this, among other things, futilely. This left him, on some levels alone, indignant and harboring a certain level of anger against the world… Initially aimed at no one in particular and easily directed against anyone, when provoked. Tariq spent a lot of adolescence lashing out. He often picked fights, and since they didn’t kill him, each one left him stronger. Conflicts that he encountered, on small scales and large, clearly existed as a tool to oppress or as an excuse to wound. Since resolution was rarely ever the goal, the language to deal with such friction automatically became physical. He was not someone who bothered putting deliberate thought and effort into hurting people… Doing more damage and taking less was usually the goal. Words had never affected him much and initially he assumed that to be true for whoever he stood against. So in his head, they were not a viable option as a weapon. This rings true on a deeper level for him. Actions will always speak louder than words. But, just like he improved his technique and learned that blows could be exchanged with more precision, he learned that words could hurt some people in a way blows couldn’t. And words could also stir people in ways violence could never. But the more he learned, the less inclined he was to use something as beautiful and communicative as language to cause suffering and pain. So, he still has a preference and tendency to settle things with a measured degree of physical violence. He’ll aim to set, or assume some code for every brawl he enters, based on his opponent, their relationship and the situation. He’ll aim to fight clean and honorably - rules will be set and rules will be followed. Unless it is combative and there is a clear enemy. In that case, he’s quite a savage and it is usually the only time he displays the full extent of his brutality. When it's a no-holds-barred situation - Which war often. He’s aware that it's a dog eat dog world and will want to come out as the dog on top if he can. A part of him gets a high off of the lack of rules and the freedom this gives him. He almost never turns down a good brawl.

Tariq can be brutal, but Tariq is not a brute. In the moments where he is not fighting anyone for any reason, he’s insightful and easy to get along with. He has the spirit that radiates a certain degree of abandon and will often be the one that suggests something wild that may be worth exploring. He values life but he values feeling alive too. To him the body is just a meat-suit for the soul and the latter needs a whole bunch of nourishment too… if the former suffers for it sometimes, then so be it. He explores the world in a rather tactile and observant manner, but he has a gift to translate his experiences into evocative little phrases… Tariq is often a poet, without meaning or trying to be.

Tariq is a survivor, the concept of dying for something is not one he fathoms, he’d rather live to play the long game. The concept of dying for someone works similarly. If he had to… He’d want to go down fighting. If dying for someone is confounding, living for someone is worse. This is something he lives by with respect to his own value too, he doesn’t simply expect people to lay down their lives for him, or on his orders. He will always try to appeal to their sense of personal reason, if he wants or needs something done. Ironically, the lack of the usual entitlement and the fact that he’s always willing to be down in the trenches with his people is what makes them very loyal and more likely to do whatever is needed or whatever he wants. He has known and seen loss, and still has the courage to form intense attachments. However, he’s not very possessive.

She was born to Ehsaan Shastri and Maan Shastri. Ehsaan worked for the fuel and forest preservationist company run by G.C (Auriga) in Sector 09 and he was a bit of a misogynist, so he didn't really want Maan to be working. Maan had the qualifications to work as a journalist (Caelum). When Maan is pregnant with Aki, Ehsaan falls very very sick, and to get him treatment, Maan is co-coerced into joining a genetic enhancement study, which is how Akira-embryo ends up a specific genetic boost and that’s what gets her her ancient-lost-telepathic-empathy-powers. The study is abruptly closed down, so Maan is just stuck with this powered child.

Ehsaan was a mean drunk and had anger issues. There are multiple situations of mild physical violence against Maan, even after Aki is born. So, she decides to leave him when Aki is five. They move to Aki's maternal grandparents (Jeet and Guru Shastri - yes it was an odd coincidence that her family name on her maternal and paternal side was the same, so no name taking issues, ha and they adore her). Her mother takes a few jobs here and there, which is hard as a single parent. She meanwhile has an... interesting time at school given her powers. Aki is frustrated and distracted and can't fathom why people lie, especially because Maan harps on about being honest, especially to oneself and waters a very strong sense of conscience in Aki. Aki is transferred to an up and coming school called Anjuman, which is run by Daevy Pyxis’ biological sister Noor Kohli

Meanwhile, Maan starts working on writing journal reviews for sustainable products and designs, and gets in touch with Tariq's father - Altair Meissa, who is a set-designer and theatre performer, who makes his own furniture. And... well... they fall in love. Sector 09 is hostile and volatile. So there are periodic riots and mob violence sort of stuff particularly between the two religious group. One of Tariq’s heritage and the other of Aki’s, among others. So, Aki is forced to deal with this romeo-juliet-esque situation that her mom has gotten into, because it is an illicit affair and whether they want it or not, Altair and Maan are representatives of the conflicting groups. Tariq also is transferred to Anjuman. Tariq and Akira run into Eze often, who visits their school from Sector 09 G.C.A (given that its run by his aunt).

Things really head south when Tariq loses his older brother in one of these riots and that puts a whole bunch of strain on the Meissa family and this strain, for Maan, ends up sharply reminding her that her relationship with Altair is amoral. A guilt-stricken ‘I-am-a-homewrecker’ Maan ends up dependent on illicitly obtained prescription pills. While battling depression and suicidal tendencies. Akira is left to deal with this mess through her preteens and a bit of her teens, not knowing how to ask for help without giving up the relationship which feels far more dangerous since it’d drive a wedge through Aki’s family, will it threatens to make them social pariahs and might even be a death sentence given the conflict. Spiralling from the loss of her firstborn son, Jheel eventually gets fatally sick. Aki and T are transferred to Sector 09 G.C.A (where they study with Eze), till their family lives can be stabilized. Eventually, Aki returns to Anjuman but T doesn’t. She sees him largely on some weekends and during vacations. She watches him inch towards a sort of unabashed delinquency. She watches him hang out in Eze’s crowd and succumb to a life of ‘drugs and parties’. Aki, having dealt with her mom, tries to help him through his addiction, at least enough so he can keep his sports and academic performance up. There is a competition for a scholarship to G.C.A sector 0, which both T and Aki take part in and tie. On humanitarian grounds (because Jheel is close to death/ready to succumb) T is given the scholarship. (Aki is certain that there is also the influence of T’s buddiness with Eze. This leaves Aki feeling abandoned and betrayed when T accepts.

Akira sees her own struggles (mostly because they feel unjustified to her) as a solo battle that could use an ephemeral support system to conquer. Her distracted, creative spirit is often at odds with her scholarly ventures, add labile emotions to this and Akira is left in a flux of turbulent frustration. Self-worth and confidence suffers sometimes and she is likely to close herself in. As someone who isn't (can’t be) result oriented, she accepts the existence of imperfection but not the unwillingness to attempt working against it--However slow that process might be. She deals with these internal turmoil, externally and alone. Finding it easiest to throw herself into something that'll exhaust her and steal away from the time she can spend brooding. This could be physical exhaustion through sports, martial arts, a variety of performing arts and creative projects that she will work on obsessively (and then drop).

Akira will assume that she’s been deemed weak (even if she hasn’t), if someone has witnessed her in a state that she judges as such. And one way or another, she will seek to re-establish her strength. She has always had a grandiose perspective of her own strength. She believes herself to be capable of stoic endurance in the face of pain. Sometimes she seeks it, just to prove this point to herself or others around her. Or to deal with a pressing sense of guilt. She hates pity, but she loves attention and does want to be admired for the right reasons. If someone she holds in high regard, recognises her strength under duress she's ecstatic about the validation. Especially if she feels like the ordeal served a purpose or was well endured as penance.

Her need for validation does leave her craving popularity sometimes. However, Akira is like a flame… sometimes a flickering candle, often a warm hearth... and sometimes a raging inferno. Inconsistency makes relationships hard and definitely does not garner her popular approval. Her inherent tendencies will automatically end up testing people. Friction is a consistent part of her affection. She still fights within a relationship as much as she fights for it.

She will entertain and push for extensive philosophical discourses, littered with painful hypotheticals... with whoever is willing. Holding up mirrors (sometimes cruelly, because she cannot give up on her tendency to deflate the over-inflated ego) and playing the devil’s advocate is her specialty.

Why? Because to her, intentions matter most. A reminder that her intentions are still noble, despite her failings can feel uplifting. Akira values self-awareness greatly. She believes that people need to introspect, reflect and work on themselves consistently. That true empathy is borne out of this. To the best of her ability, she does apply this to herself. She is susceptible to being disappointed by unjust and unfair things. Especially when the cause stems from others not valuing self-awareness, or dismissing it. When people harm each other, in search of power or because they don’t know better, Akira is met with a festering frustration.

Her natural curiosity is insatiable. It thrives on variety and settles on an obsessive unravelling of the minds around her, for better or for worse. Her intensity ends up working as a filter. And it leaves her with a good radar for people. She is not easy to fool. Akira seeks spirited souls that stand up for what they believe in, but are capable of being vulnerable… Are capable of realising that they can be wrong. These are the people she allows herself to love. Everything is amped up for those she loves, dangerously so. Once a relationship is forged and fostered, she is unlikely to give up on it. She cannot fake this attachment. and she measures her value by it sometimes. Her indiscipline makes it difficult for her to achieve concrete markers of success. So, being able to be there for people, good, kind, well-intentioned people--her people, fills that void.

Her innate empathy for people she considers hers--the ones she needs to protect and support, is subject to manipulation. It'll be very difficult for her to watch someone she cares for suffer, in her stead or directly/indirectly because of her. Her pride is an anchor, but in certain situations can be fragile. She knows a shattered sense of self will leave her quite hollow. And feeling like she failed, herself or someone around her, will tick that quickly.

Like everyone, Akira has a spectrum: Hate. Dislike. Indifference. Like. Love. Both extremes can become all-consuming. She knows she is capable of sinking into depravity, if she gives way to hate, and so assumes most humans could be. Akira would merrily dole out vengeance, to a dehumanising and sadistic degree if someone displayed cruelty (incidentally the quickest path to her hate) towards her or her people. She has not entirely reconciled that part of herself with her identity. Knowing that she can’t be entirely impartial leaves her agonizing.

Born Jarvis Kaiser to Maximillian Kaiser and Mu Hattori-Kaiser. Mu went through the cutting edge genetic therapy when pregnant with Jarvis and hence his seemingly awoken-ancient-and-lost-powers of future-sight and precognition. His father worked with SpecSyn and his cover job was as a technician for intra-space transport (like trains) for the colonies that were made on the moon/mars. (Which gave Jarvis his early fascination with the space) His mom too worked with Specsyn and her cover job was as an assistant to Azrael Pyxis who worked in a very high position in a global space-food company (under Norma). Jarvis is made to assume his orphan identity as Jared Knight at six when his parents’ cover is risked and they’re forced to ‘disappear’, so are assumed dead in an attack incident involving Quantum Brigade. His parents are provided refuge by SpecSyn’s underground internal network. Jarvis is enlisted G.C.A full time as Jared Knight. (Jarvis still gets to be in touch with his parents and Mu teaches him Ninja arts which helps him some more as an agent etc etc.)

G.C.A is fairly militaristic, it is a very dog eat dog setup, because - 'Gotta toughen up: You’re not people, you’re agents.' Given his heritage, Jared meanwhile, is being 'groomed' to work as spy with SpecSyn by Mark Walker (G.C.A’s student counselor - studying neuropsychiatry, childhood behaviour and development). Jared and Zach are batchmates. They start off as young rivals and then become friends with mutual admiration for each other’s abilities. They hang out in the same 'elite student' crowd (Not entirely Jared’s preference, but he is already learning to ‘play his part’.) And are kinda bullied bullies of sorts.

Jared and Zach graduate from G.C.A at 17 and start interning as diplomatic agents from 18 onwards - They're posted in Sector 09, under the loose guidance of Daevy Pyxis [Azrael’s wife]. They're also simultaneously studying their bachelor equivalent/prerequisites for space engineering and law respectively. Those subjects give them global access easily and will aid them in working as diplomatic agents in the future, in terms of recon and resources. This is perfect for SpecSyn too - because Sector 9 is volatile and a bit hostile.

In Sector 09 Jared does eventually run into Akira in a situation where Akira’s school is being held hostage in a political/religious situation and interning agents as well as others are sent to mitigate the situation. From there, something happens - related to the hostage situation - that forces him to betray Azrael (who was guilty), but Daevy (who is not guilty) is the one who 'pays' for this political misdemeanour.

Zach knows Jared is the 'mole' but he doesn't know that Jared is working with an organisation. He believes that Jared made that decision out of some moral naivety. Zach has never thought too highly of his mothers himself. So, without telling Jared that he knows he is the mole, Zach instead, helps Jared under the pretense that he thinks Jared is innocent. Jared gets out of the sticky situation (but Zach gets into one, temporarily).

He’s a utilitarian good guy in essence. He’s forward thinking and largely operates with the intention to improve the future and rarely out of self-preservation. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t value his life at all, he simply attributes it to the role that he’s playing towards making the best envisioned future. He’s likely to make the best out of a bad situation and operates well on instinct when planning fails - Despite that trait, he will always plan excessively, but may or may not share plans with others readily. He doesn’t lack collaborative skills, he simply prefers working alone.

When duty calls, he's cold, detached, efficient and impassive. He'd go to whatever lengths that are deemed necessary for the greater good, rarely any more or any less. Unless there is a very strong personal motivation behind his actions, he won't really find any joy in it in hurting someone. He is self-aware enough to feel conflicted and guilty about his actions, but rarely allows that to interfere with getting the job done. On the occasions that he’s been at the mercy of those who dislike him (for one reason or another) he's either passionately feisty or, if severely subdued (not so much physically, but circumstantially), he is as resigned and stoic as he can be. He has a lot of pride but he doesn’t wear it on his sleeve. It is derived from his sense of purpose and he can endure a lot without letting it wear down. He has the ability to stow away his pride for the greater good, separate and protect it from things he is enduring.

If he is truly stripped of a sense of purpose, he'd probably be a husk of a man. As a husk, he could either just go on with life mechanically and disinterestedly, or simply give up and do nothing. He'd need something drastic and consistent to pull him out, but he won't be incurable - Especially if he’s convinced to undertake a new purpose.

The who is who, is answered by the division into ‘Designations’ - The Stakeholders, Contacts, Subject and Units. Each have their own responsibilities and the influence associated with it, how they use that depends on them (to a degree).

The Stakeholders- The people with money and power. They get to intervene whenever, however and in whatever capacity, for good and for bad. Stakeholders get to orchestrate the events of the Blitz and witness it for entertainment from a luxurious vantage point. They get to visit the Nexus to check in and they may purchase/rent the Units/Subjects. (Possibly even for rescue or just for personal reasons.)

Most traditionally these characters would be whumpers, but may choose to be caretakers/rescuers, (or even whumpees, with some creative plotting)

The Contacts - The ones that run the Nexus. They are usually under pressure to 'get/show results' to the Stakeholders, no matter what it takes. They’re in a mutually beneficial relationship with willing Units/Subjects. They’re in charge of driving the unwilling Units/Subjects. Some will be in charge of keeping discipline in the Nexus and during the Bloody Blitz [Like prison wardens]. Some will be in charge of fixing up the Units and Subjects (after an experiment/punishment/event) so they can continue performing [Like medics/doctors.] Some of them train the Subjects [like Trainers/coaches would], some might guide the Units. [like teachers/professors would]. Overlap encouraged: Trainer+Warden. Medic+Mentor. [Any other combinations] Most traditionally, these characters would get to be whumpers and caretakers of the ‘prison/hospital ward/Training facility’ variety.

The Units (willing) The researchers/scientists etc. The ones design these 'products' by choice [More information on the potential ‘products’ below.] The willing ones who treat the Nexus like a place of learning and a lab. Certain Contacts might be their mentors and the Subjects would be their lab rats. They’d still be under the supervision of Contacts, but they are free to come and go. They may witness/manage their ‘product’ in the Bloody Blitz during the demonstrations. Most traditionally they’d be whumpers of the ‘lab/medical whump’ variety.

The Subjects (willing) - The Show-Ponies who thrive in battle-esque settings and like to live on the edge. They treat the Nexus like a twisted gym membership. They use it to train and practice, but they’re free to leave. They may volunteer to have Products (that are already deemed safe to use) used on them for their ‘Performance’ at the Blitz. Most traditionally, these characters would be whumpers of the ‘beat-down, sadistic violence, show-off’ variety. The Units (unwilling) The ones who have unwillingly become stuck in the system live in the Nexus in prison-like cells (alongside the Subjects). They’re managed by the Contacts and are expected to show results.They will be forced to experiment on Subjects and are usually punished for failures/escape attempts. They may be rented/purchased by Stakeholders for whatever purposes the Stakeholder deems fit. Most traditionally, these characters would be whumpees (enduring prison-like whump) and often subjected to the forced whump scenarios (of the lab/medical whump) variety. (They could choose to caretake (for each other or other Subjects post punishments/fights in the Nexus etc) The Subjects (unwilling) Unwilling Subjects (like unwilling Units) live in the Nexus and are managed by Contacts. They’re trained to endure the harsh conditions of the Bloody Blitz so they can be more resilient. They are also the lab rats for the testing of the Products (their consent, safety and well-being is not of primary concern). They may be punished for underperforming and/or escape attempts. They may be rented/purchased by Stakeholders for whatever purposes the Stakeholder deems fit. Most traditionally, these characters would be whumpees (subject to prison-esque and lab-whump) They too, might be involved in forced whump situations (of the beat-down, fight to death, violent situation variety) They could choose to caretake for each other/other Units in the Nexus)

Global Confederate's motto is: Conscience. Concordance. Cognizance. Their M.O is to try mould their Acers young. Scattered all over the world (at least one per Region), they have, G.C Academies, that are half/full-Boarding schools. They are highly competitive to get into. One needs excellent mean of their 'Genetic and practical-applicability score' to make it in. Usually, G.C academy graduates get (especially those that have done well), get a preferential spot in G.C Universities. G.C Universities have open call-outs for students all over the world, but those who are not Academy graduates very rarely clear the qualifications examinations and that is if they have the pre-requisites to apply. G.C universities are equipped with the best research labs and offer cutting edge higher education. It is also where Amity Enforcers (should someone choose to be one) are further trained and start interning/practising. Amity Enforcers, and other staff/S.P.A.C.C company workers get to enjoy the perks of the G.C Facilities, which offer state of the art residences and healthcare access.

More about Amity Enforcers (Acers)

The goal of Amity Enforcers is to: Identify radicals that pose a global threat. Dismantle organised crime and/or resistances that are deemed to be seeding chaos and seem to have no plausible, verifiable, singular cause. Resolving inter-sector conflict and situations. Providing aid in the event of disasters etc. So there is variance between the role and operations of on Acer from another.