Atomic Beetle
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Player: @AtomicBeetle | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Tanker |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Kelson Bjarme |
| Known Aliases: | Kell, Kelly, Beetle |
| Species: | Meta-Human |
| Age: | 30 (June 20th) |
| Height: | 6'8" |
| Weight: | 240 lbs. |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Dark brown |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | Caucasian |
| Occupation: | Crimefighter |
| Place of Birth: | Egypt |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, RI |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | ' |
| Known Powers | |
| Super Strength, Fire manipulation | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Hand-to-hand combat, endurance | |
| Equipment | |
| None | |
| None | |
This article is about the superhero. For the Brazillian sex term, you're on the wrong website.
The Atomic Beetle is one of Paragon's many superheroes, in this case an average civillian finding himself in a life-changing situation which has granted him amazing abilities. The Atomic Beetle is what many consider to be a 'Silver Age' hero, with a more modern costume and history, but with Golden Age values, meaning he stands for Truth, Justice, Honor, etc.
Because he was an average human citizen before becoming a superhero, Beetle has what some consider a stronger connection with the average lay-man than some space- or extradimensional-faring heroes. Some also say it is because Beetle fears that one day his powers disappear, leaving him an average citizen once again. It has been declared as 'textbook paranoia' and has been known to happen to many heroes.
Contents |
[edit] Affiliations
Atomic Beetle has been affiliated with many different factions throughout his hero career, but he is officially registered with The Action Pact.
[edit] Personality
Classic hero-type with a give-em-hell attitude. Although he may not seem like it, he very much enjoys helping others.
Beetle is actually quite knowledgeable, as he received one of the top grades in his graduating class at Paragon University. Unfortunately he preffers to keep his intelligence hidden and instead be a brash loud-mouth.
Beetle learned how to speak Arabic during school, which was perfected during his trip to Egypt. Since then, he's found that he has a natural talent for languages, and has attempted to learn several.
[edit] Powers
Beetle is rated with superstrength, although he has never had a controlled test, so the actual limit of his strength is unknown. He once carried a modern windmill, used to harness the wind in Germany for electricity, several miles.
Beetle's accident also granted him limited control over fire, and uses it mostly to shield himself against attacks. It is unknown at which temperature he is able to reach, only that he himself is immune to his own and all other forms of fire and heat. He has been known to surf volcanoes.
Because of advanced mutations, Beetle gained limited control over pure energy. He finds it easiest to produce energy blasts from his eyes and hands, in the form of laser-vision and energy torrents. He can also 'pause' his own energy usage for a short time, meaning he can last much longer before tiring.
[edit] Other Power Information
-Beetle also has the ability to fly, and can currently reach just over Mach 1.
[edit] Costumes
Beetle's only real claim to any equipment is to his costumes. He has had three official costumes thus far, with one costume in its final test phase.
The First Costume
This red and black getup was mainly fashioned for him by Orion labs. It was very basic, until Kelson added shoulder pads, antenna for the helmet, spikes for the boots, and painted various portions red. He also decided to add a radioactive symbol when he thought it would look 'Cool'. It was then that he decided to name himself 'The Atomic Beetle'.
It was later that Beetle changed the chest insignia to the 'wings' emblem after joining The Justiciars.
The Second Costume
The second red and black costume was a very drastic change. He ditched the helmet completely, instead wearing protective goggles and a black mask. He decided to keep the antenna, although they are admittedly smaller and more flexible than their metal counterparts. Deciding to show his face was a very huge emotional undertaking for Kelson, as it had been the first time anyone had seen ANY portion of his face for quite some time. (Estimated to be approximately three years.)
The Third Costume
The current, blue-and-black costume is little more than a color change from the previous one. Taking everything that had been painted red and coloring them blue, this newer costume has been called by many a 'more effective' look, and Kelson agrees. This change, although small, represents his loyalty to The Justiciars, whose official colors are indeed blue and black.
The Current Costume
The current style for Beetle is little more than a pattern change, coupled with the loss of his antennae. His hair is now visible, and his costume uses much more white.
[edit] Character History
Taken from the inside cover of 'The Awesome Atomic Beetle #1 - Beetle Born'
Kelson was a healthy baby boy, born to two archaeologists on a dig in Egypt. He remained there only for several weeks until his mother decided it was time for Kelson to experience his real home: America.
He grew up in a normal, caring home. He was your basic everyday teenager. Awkward, unsure of himself, just wanted to have fun. He would sneak out of the house at night to hang out with his buddies. That sort of thing.
Near the end of his final year in high school, he met Linda. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, but he lacked the courage to actually express his feelings. He even altered his choice of University just so he could be around her, taking courses in Archaeology, which he was only even remotely interested in. He would talk to her each day, sure. But it never went beyond friends.
Finally, he gathered up enough courage to actually tell her how he felt. In a sudden feat of strength, he wrote how he felt down on a crumpled napkin as he sat in the cafeteria. Pleased with himself, he left. Later on that evening, the university was hosting a sort of Meet and Greet Social, a place where students could meet, talk amongst themselves, and have a good time. Kelson knew Linda would be there, so he threw on his best clothes, slathered on the cologne, and stumbled through the doors. He scanned the room for Linda and spotted her, barely, though the throng of bodies, chatting, dancing, eating. He pushed his way through the crowd, the confession napkin in hand. There he saw Linda, standing near the punch. She was in a vice-grip liplock with Akil Adjo, the Egyptian exchange student.
Kelson didn't let his anger for either Linda or Akil show. Instead, he brooded. He decided to become the best archaeology student he could. He barely went outside, only to eat or go to class. His grades skyrocketed, and the professors took notice. And when the professors took notice, so did Linda. Linda saw Kelson's strength and determination for the first time, and began to move closer to him. Akil took notice. Akil was not happy.
By the time Kelson had graduated he had been offered a position in - where else? - Egypt. He and Linda were inseperable. His dream had come true. Akil was torn to shreds, though. He was one who was used to getting what he wanted.
While Kelson and Linda were unpacking their bags in their new home in Cairo, Akil was standing at the airport terminal in Rhode Island, buying a ticket for Egypt.
The dig was moving very well. Some locals had discovered what appeared to be fragments from a very old cartouche, an egyptian name plate. Of who they couldn't say, so it was Kelson and Linda's job to find out.
One morning, Kelson was excavating in his usual place, when he found it: A small chamber made of stone, barely large enough to fit one person. Inside were the shattered remnants of a cartouche. The final pieces. Excited, Kelson formed the pieces together and read the name aloud: KHEPRI. The Egyptian scarab god of Resurrection. Kelson placed the pieces in a sealed metal box and hid it in his tent, making the appropriate phone calls. Akil, disguised as a simple Egyptian citizen helping with the dig, eyed the metal box with wonderment as it disappeared into the shed. He silently ducked out of the camp and ran as fast as he could toward the city, leaving plumes of sand in his wake.
That night, while everyone slept, Akil made his way back into the camp. He stood just outside Kelson's tent, a rage building in him he couldn't control. But now was not the time to shatter Kelson, he told himself. It will all fall into place after tonight. Akil grabbed one of the kerosene lamps and opened it's resevoir, spilling its contents onto one of the tents near the opposite side of the camp. He struck up a match, tossing it into the highly flammable kerosene and ducked into the shadows, awaiting his moment. He eyed Kelson's tent amidst the smoke, shouting, and confusion, waiting for him to awake. Finally Kelson stumbled out, groggy eyed. When Kelson noticed the source of the commotion, he ran full-tilt towards the water stores. After a horrible, blurry rescue attempt, Kelson and his helpers had put out the flames. But where the tent once stood, an ashen, smouldering pockmark scarred the sand. Three charred bodies lay twisted, cooked into a horrible position of agony.
When Kelson returned to his tent, he didn't even think to look for the metal box which held the cartouche. It was safely in Akil's lap, Akil who's laughter would he deafening if he wasn't already miles away, speeding away in his jeep. But his laughter was cut short when the metal box began to glow red-hot, and finally exploded in a horrific fireball. The jeep, now engulfed in flames, crashed awkwardly into a sand dune. Akil crawled out, still on fire, screaming in agony. What he did not witness was the metal box, now a smouldering mess, cracked open. The cartouche, split into seven pieces, rose into the air, forming one solid chuck of stone once more. It was as though it was created yesterday. Its gleaming surface, inlaid with ivory and gold looked marvelous. A voice spoke to Akil, and he ceased his wailing. It simple said, "I WILL HEAL YOUR WOUNDS. BUT YOU MUST BECOME MY SLAVE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Akil, unable to think clearly, just screamed yes, yes, over and over again. Akil and the cartouched suddenly disappeared in a flash of golden light, leaving the smoking hulk of the jeep to bake in the sand.
After the commotion, Linda confessed that she had seen Akil in the camp days earlier, only she had not said anything. She was afraid she would upset Kelson. Kelson became an obsessed man. His life goal was to find Akil and reclaim the cartouche. It belonged in a museum, and the glory belonged to him. After some careful detective work, Kelson felt it was better to move back to Rhode Island, tracking Akil back to his home town of Paragon City. It was there that Linda announced that she was pregnant. With twins. They decided to get married in a small ceremony.
But Kelson was too caught up to fully enjoy the announcement, much as he was when his newborn twin baby girls came into his life. He was a good father, mind you. His home was nice. His family had everything they wanted. But Kelson seemed...distant. Tracking down this madmad Akil became his life's work. His office was plastered with newspaper articles, police records, his own notes and maps. Linda took notice, and so did his kids. It became Linda's decision to move out of the house. Wherever her husband once was, he wasn't there now.
Suddenly, Kelson snapped out of his funk. He turned his eyes towards his wife and kids, but it was too late. Linda wanted a divorce.
Kelson became a wreck. He became a raging alcoholic, notorious in his neighbourhood for his midnight antics of dancing, singing, banging on garbage can lids. His once beautiful home because a run-down mess with rotting panels and a front lawn like a jungle. But when Kelson lost his job at the university, he came to his senses once and for all. He cleaned up his home and managed to sell it, moving into a smaller apartment. His kids never saw him, Linda was granted full custody over them after the court ruled Kelson an irresponsible drunk. So the small space was all he needed. He took a job as a garbage man, staying more or less around the same neighbourhood. It was decent, honest work.
Akil Adjo, chemisty and biology student of Paragon U, sat in his newly purchased home in Paragon City, RI. The house of course was just a cover, for in the basement he experimented. He built things, huge machines designed to generate the power needed to splice DNA. Machines that were extremely dangerous, that ran on nuclear power. You see...Khepri, the Egyptian Beelte God, was forcing Akil to build him a new body. The body would be, essentially, Akil's. But with the genetic enhancements Akil would make to his own body, he would create a vessel better suited for a God. A vengeful God, asleep for millenia. Khepri ordered Akil to take various formes of Beetle DNA and splice it with his own, then bombarding it with various types of radiation to create a sort of Beetle-man. On this day, Akil was ready for the final stage. And on this day...Kelson was picking up the garbage.
Akil threw on the turbines, typed in the proper access codes and sequences into the computer. Machines hummed and glowed all around him, charging the laser emitter which would blast Akil into a new existance. Kelson, hummed merily to himself as he picked up the garbage bags from the house next door. Noticing a green bag of garbage that had been blown closer to Akil's house, he decided to be a nice guy and walk across the lawn to grab it.
Inside the basement, Akil strapped himself into a metal chair, looking more like it was designed to administer a lethal electric shock. The Cartouche of Khepri floated just above his head, prepared to make the transfusion.
Kelson grabbed the bag of garbage and on his way back to the truck, he tripped on a garden hose, falling forward onto his stomach. As he tried to catch his breath, he noticed he was directly beside Akil's basement window. He peered inside at all the roaring machinery, now reaching critical mass. The last thing he saw was Akil, clutching the metal armrests.
"...AKIL!", he shouted. "You f..."
BOOM!
The experiment was a success. Akil climbed out of the rubble, glowing green with atomic energy, sharing his mind with the God Khepri. He laughed mightily, and took off into the sky. Kelson, also glowing, lay a bleeding, broken mess beneath some rubble.
He remembers awaking in a hospital bed. He remembers not being able to feel his right arm, but being able to see it. It was covered in metal. He blacked out again.
This continued, him waking up and blacking out, remembering little bits of speech here and there. "...the arm was created to replace...........the radiation is unstable, it could......." Finally, he awoke, fully alert, with a doctor and several nurses surrounding him in HAZMAT suits. "Son...we need to epxlain something to you...", the doctor began.
They told him that he was giving off small amounts of radiation, which would subside on its own after a month or so. They also told him that his face and much of his body was horribly disfigured, but was healing very, very rapidly. Also, he had lost his arm in the accident, but that a leading scientific firm had donated their efforts into replacing it with a fully-functional robotic replacement. Not only that...The scientists wanted to see him again.
Once he was strong enough to walk, they brought him to their testing facility at Orion Labs. They fitted him with a simple suit and helmet which would protect other people from his radiation. They also told him that with training, he could learn to control this radiation, learn how to subside it, or even...make it stronger. After running several athletic tests, they discovered that Kelson, although still injured, had the fitness and strength level of an olympic athlete, and it was growing stronger every day. Also, after running some DNA scans, they found an unusual amount of Beetle DNA fused with his own. Kelson was no longer human, but a meta-human. The scientists loving nicknamed him 'The Beetle'. By the time he left, he could lift several tons, and had learned how to hover several feet from the ground. The scientists told him it was safe for him to remove the suit now that he had learned to control the fire-like radiation, but Kelson didn't want to risk it.
After returning home, Kelson felt it was his duty to use his newfound abilities for good. In a city like Paragon, the citizens needed all the heroes they could get. After making some modifications to his suit and helmet, Kelson named himself, 'The Atomic Beetle', thanking silently his friends at Orion.
But Akil Adjo still lurks the streets. Word is, that the civilians have named him 'The Supreme Scarab', and that he has become most feared. When he decides to show his face, no one will know.
[edit] Endorsements
As with many heroes, Beetle has chosen to spread his image around the globe in the form of television, film, and other alternative media. One of this most popular products are his action figures. Although the toy line is officially called 'The Atomic Beetle', it features many other heroes, mostly from The Justiciars.
[edit] Trivia
- The Atomic Beetle could very well have ended up running solo, or with a SG other than The Justiciars. According to BlackFalcon, one of the leaders, or 'Primes' of the Justiciars, she chose a hero at random who was loitering underneath the giant 'Atlas' statue in Atlas Park to prove a point that she could make any hero great. She said she could have just as easily chosen a similar hero, 'The Nuclear Grasshopper'.
- Beetle's listed registry used to describe him as 'a dark hero', but after numerous commericials, TV spots, TV interviews, action figures, and a 'Justiciars' Saturday-morning cartoon, this is clearly not the case.
- His chin is ranked as one of the largest in all of Paragon. (In proportion.)
Categories: Character | Male | Hero | Science | Tanker | The Action Pact
