Midnight
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Even though he's been through a lot, Midnight is a street-level hero hiding a fair few tricks up his sleeves. With advanced gadgets at his disposal, he's proved time and time again to be a useful ally of Millennium City and beyond; upholding truth and justice unflinchingly in the face of evil.
HIS HISTORY
ORIGINS - THE MIDNIGHT RIDER
Despite the current-generation Midnight's outfit and the fact he’s in America being outlandishly different to his past counterpart, The Midnight Rider was a very early documented case of a vigilante. During the 18th century when bandits and highwaymen were prevalent on the long country roads of Britain, the homestead of a wealthy inventor was raided and ransacked by criminals from the local area that had banded together on rumor that Manfred Lionel Charleston (the homestead’s owner) held great reserves of gold, precious gems and money in a safe on the estate. This raid went well in favor of the villains as they stormed the mansion, laying waste to servants, friends and family of Manfred Charleston but were stopped when the inventor engaged a last resort defense system; a highly volatile mixture of explosives packed against the building’s foundations was detonated and Manfred escaped. It was after these events that he took up a cause, to ensure that England’s roads could be safely traversed and that vengeance would be enacted upon the band of criminals that ended the lives of so many that lived under his protection. Over the course of approximately eight years, Manfred acquired a small group of dedicated followers that shared similar experiences including a man that had ties to King George III and it was through this connection that The Midnight Rider was born. Bearing a cape marked by a diamond-encompassed circle, this figure enacted righteous justice in the king’s name and brought down countless corrupt crooks. Whether or not it was Manfred behind The Rider’s mask is unknown but his talents were certainly prevalent, as the crimefighter’s preferred weapon was possibly the very first rifle that used a revolving magazine along with a variety of concealed tricks and devices that gave The Rider every edge they could have in a fight. The Midnight Rider’s documented death occurred on March 22nd 1811, when the secret base they and their compatriots had been using was destroyed in a very similar way to Manfred Charleston’s estate. Only three survivors escaped the building’s destruction, two being The Rider’s allies and the other being a member of King George’s court that had visited the group to discuss further alliance with the king and country. After this incident, The Midnight Rider’s presence was no longer documented so whether or not someone else took up the mantle afterwards is unknown. At least until 2001, when the new Midnight hit the scene.
EARLY LIFE - MIDNIGHT’S CHILDHOOD
Born to a wealthy family, many of whom were already serving under Britain’s military at the time, the boy who would become the new Midnight spent his infantile years in the lap of luxury with private education, a gigantic mansion as his home and an entourage of servants waiting on him hand and foot. Despite the attention he was given by the staff of the mansion, both of his parents were distant and cold; the reason why soon becoming prevalent. In an instant, the toddler’s innocent world was shattered as he was taken from his family home to a military fortification located somewhere in the Scottish highlands. From that point onward, he and fifteen other children were subject to a brutally strict regime with the intent to train them for membership among the U.K.’s most elite and secretive metahuman-level defense force. Even though some of the fifteen were actual metahumans with powers that they trained and honed, the young Midnight-to-be shone among his peers in particular. This was due to his affinity he had for marksmanship, guerrilla warfare and inventing as well as mounted combat, trademarks of the old vigilante. While they toiled and trained over the course of 12 long years, their overseeing officers monitored each one’s development carefully. As they all neared the age of 18, however, a tragedy took place that forced Midnight to don the heroic identity he carries to this day.
TEENAGE YEARS - THE FORT KINGSGUARD INCIDENT
October 14th, 1998. In the wake of the Cottonmouth Trial, VIPER (under leadership of a new Supreme Serpent) initiated a brutal counter-attack on military installations across the globe, including the site where Midnight had grown up and trained. Prior to the organization’s invasion and subsequent massacre, the stronghold had a populace of nearly two hundred and fifty. None of the soldiers at Fort Kingsguard had expected VIPER forces to attack so by the time any sort of retaliation could be done, it was too late. A single breach in the main perimeter barrier were all the terrorists needed to invade and take out U.K. military and UNTIL forces alike until only the fifteen were left in the most secure structure on the site. Fifteen highly-trained agents managed to hold position and alert other authorities for extraction but the delay was too long. By the time the evacuation helicopter and backup had arrived, the fifteen had gone down to five, which soon became one during the extraction as some succumbed to injuries. With an apparent decade of effort gone to waste, the Fort Kingsguard Incident was covered up under red tape and all records of the project that took place there were hidden away… Three years later, an article in the BBC alerted the public to the return of an apparent historic figure. Midnight, having been captured on CCTV saving hostages of a bank robbery, was once more prevalent in the U.K.
YOUNG ADULTHOOD - LEADING UP TO THE PRESENT
Midnight, much akin to his past counterpart, made his patrols up and down the mainland and focused on criminal activities that occurred in more remote locations. Small towns victim to organized crime rings, villages plagued by deranged cults, even a VIPER nest located out in the countryside were all stopped by Midnight. An agent of the Ministry of Defense, Midnight was at the forefront fighting against any and all problems that plagued Britain. This was the case for a good decade and a half, until a super villain arose in 2016. The Northlander, a self-proclaimed ‘New King of England’ began a rampage near Hadrian’s Wall and pushed south using inhuman strength and durability to punch through police blockades. Only when Midnight intervened did he stop, only to produce a transponder that called in VIPER forces poised for an ambush, determined to wipe out any traces of Fort Kingsguard. Barely escaping with his life, Midnight was forced to flee as The Northlander escaped West to America. As a last resort, the M.O.D. contacted U.N.T.I.L. with information regarding The Northlander and Midnight was recruited into the agency’s number. With U.N.T.I.L. gaining a slight presence in the U.S. through Millennium City, he was transferred cross-country to the city he now lives and works out of.
HIS LOOK AND ATTITUDE
Appearance
Surprisingly tall, decently athletic and with a form-fitting jumpsuit, Midnight cuts an impressive figure that’s often muted by the lengthy hooded coat he dons when wandering about M.C. While it is rare for his mask to come off, the few times it does can often reveal an unshaven and fairly handsome face of a man pushing his early thirties perhaps a year too early. Beyond this and his distinct accent with origins in Croydon, Midnight could pass as both a hero when in costume and simply another face in the crowd (when in civilian clothing, that is).
Personality
The Brit keeps a level head almost 24/7, very little able to stress him out to a point where is combat effectiveness is compromised although in any opportunity given, he prefers to settle issues with words rather than fighting. In a social situation of any sort, Midnight has a distinct cheekiness to his attitude that laces his responses with occasional sarcastic witticism and cynical retorts oh-so stereotypically expected of he and his kin. While it’s yet to be seen in public, there have been times in the past where an apparent softer side of the vigilante has been seen; along with a passionate distaste for VIPER and their affiliates.
WHAT HE'S CAPABLE OF
Abilities/Skills
Midnight has no super powers to speak of, instead relying on his advanced military training and assortment of high-tech gadgets in the field. Despite being primarily focused on marksmanship, Midnight has aptitude at closer-quarters hand to hand combat as well as an unspoken knack for inventing and creating useful gizmos. Atop this, the training he’d received at Fort Kingsguard (coupled with the events surrounding it’s destruction) left him with a heightened situational awareness; able to deduce the locations of enemies on all sides with only a mere glance. Finally, to back up his already impressive roster of skills, he has an eye for detail that makes him a keen crime scene investigator.
Equipment
The main source of Midnight’s formidable combat ability, all of the listed gadgets are his own creation (admittedly manufactured using M.O.D. and U.N.T.I.L. facilities). These include:
- The Active Light Refraction Camouflage System = Built into his suit, this module emits a stealth field that can render Midnight almost completely invisible. This advanced piece of tech was provided to him when he first moved to the U.S. courtesy of U.N.T.I.L.
- The Focused Photonic Concussion Rifle = Essentially a Phaser from Star Trek, this is the weapon of choice for Midnight in any situation. Typically concealed on a sling beneath his jacket, this compact weapon fires laser beams that are comparatively higher-power than your typical dollar store cat toys and are capable of rendering someone incapacitated in a neat, non-lethal fashion.
- The Weaponized Aerial Combat Drone = Another gift from U.N.T.I.L., this drone contains two weapon systems that the hero can utilize in emergency systems and is capable of extremely high altitude flight. The first, more used function is a laser based on the same technology as his FPC rifle but a higher wattage has earned this the title of an anti-vehicular weapon due to it’s destructive potential while the second is only to be used in the most dire of situations (akin to the Fort Kingsguard incident); the weapon being a stockpile of 40mm heat-seeking missiles.
- Concealed Weaponry = A trademark of Midnight and almost any self-respecting stealthy vigilante, he keeps an assortment of consumable items to be utilized every now and then in the field. These include: Bolas made of tough paracord and heavy steel alloy weights; tear gas and regular smoke ‘grenadettes’ (essentially capsules that detonate on impact when thrown); small thermite charges for breaching doors and a few steel throwing knives to be used as a last resort.
A FEW SIDE NOTES
Strengths
The majority of Midnight’s strengths lie in his effectiveness in the field, dedicating himself to solve each case he finds methodically and carefully. Beyond that, he takes time to research certain topics when presented with the opportunity and adopts an approach to combat that results in the least total injuries and almost always no casualties.
Weaknesses
With a personality that some, if not all could consider annoying, interacting outside of his patrol is a subject where Midnight falls short. Deep down, he simply wants to make people laugh and see the better side of things due to his own experience with the horrific things the world can do. He also struggles to move beyond what happened at Fort Kingsguard despite it nearly being two decades since the military site’s destruction, primarily due to his guilt over letting so many of his comrades die – this trauma being enough to have him diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. There’s also the fact that beneath his suit, Midnight is well and truly human and as such, can be subject to toxins, injury and disease.
Relationships
- His Fellow Heroes = Whether they are internationally-renowned world savers or street-level crime fighters like himself, Midnight has a true respect for those that uphold the values of law and order.
- U.N.T.I.L. = Being an agent of this organization in secret, Midnight receives a lot, if not all of his information on criminal activity from superior officers and acts out their orders without hesitation.
- P.R.I.M.U.S. = Much like his affiliation with U.N.T.I.L., part of Midnight’s work contract requires him to cooperate with this branch of the U.S. Department of Justice when and where applicable and he does so without complaint.
- Doctor Matthew McCleiny = This psionic therapist has been a helping hand for many people; heroes and civilians alike. Midnight is no exception, having used Dr. McCleiny’s services multiple times to help cope with the feelings he’d held over Fort Kingsguard.
- The Civilians and Police Force of Millennium City = Despite only being in the city a short while, Midnight proved himself time and time again to be a reliable ally to the police and has saved countless private citizens on his day to day patrols.
Allies
Surprisingly enough, despite his friendly attitude and dedication to his cause, Midnight knows very few people. Sure, he’s spoken with others and made friendly conversation but in all reality he is rather out of his element in America, a majority of his old compatriots being back across the pond in Britain.
Enemies
- VIPER = Unsurprising, really. Everyone’s got a grudge against these guys.
- The Northlander = One could potentially consider this Drashya-fuelled, deranged wannabe monarch Midnight’s rival, being as how they butt heads often and neither seem to get the upper hand on the other.
- Darren’s Pizza = More of a personal grudge than anything, an order from this takeaway chain that was delivered late earned the near-permanent ire of the vigilante.
- Horses = Midnight has never been fond of equine, a point he’s made before in a small tabloid interview conducted by a local M.C. journalist. This was apparently after one ‘kicked him in the chest in boarding school’.
Other Facts and Trivia
- Midnight has appeared on the news a few times, mainly on the BBC but was also covered in a small segment on a WCOC broadcast. The majority of the time, his antics are presented in the printed press as he very rarely sticks around for a video interview.
- Midnight is capable of some uncanny impersonations! These include famed individuals such as Dr. Silverback, Kinetic and Ironclad but the vigilante can replicate a fair few voices if given the time to practice.
- Prior to him moving to the U.S.A. (where almost all of his clearances and jurisdiction was stripped), Midnight held some impressive power back in the U.K. as he had ties with the M.O.D. and had also saved members of Parliment from attacks in the past.
