Tenfold's page

About Tenfold

Str 9 Stam 8 Agi 3 Dex 0 Fgt 5 Int 0 Aw 2 Pr 1

Powers
Duplication 5
Multiple Minions 3 (8 minions)*(+1pp for one extra duplicate), Mental Link, Horde, Tiring
Protection 3 (+3 Toughness)

Offense
Initiative +3
Grab +5 (DC 24)
Throw +0 (DC 24)
Unarmed +9 (DC 24)

Defenses
Dodge 5, Parry 5, Fort 11, Tough 11, Will 5

Skills
Close Combat (Unarmed) 4 (+9), Perception 2 (+4)

Advantages
Interpose, Teamwork, Languages (ASL)

Total: 120 points

Complications
deaf
enemy (brother)
relationships (mother, father, long-distance girlfriend)
responsibilities (school, finding a job, enrolling in college)

Kevin Hamilton grew up in Albany, New York, with his older brother Joe and his parents, Bill and Leigh. Kevin's childhood was pretty idyllic until he hit ten years old, when he began suffering from hearing problems. Initially, he would be unable to hear for a few minutes at a time, when it seemed to him like all sound, including vibrations, was turned off.

The problem worsened when he reached his early teenage years. Hours of deafness turned into days. It struck without warning, at any time. Sometimes he would go for weeks hearing fine, then he would go a month with dozens of episodes. Hearing specialists could find nothing wrong with his ears -- everything appeared intact and functional. Once when he was 14, he was deaf for six weeks. Eventually, his parents enrolled him in a local school for disabled students, where he learned American Sign Language and how to cope during his bouts of silence.

His parents were supportive and showered him with attention, which caused resentment to fester in Joe. He became rebellious and disruptive, from blaring the stereo to impressive acts of vandalism. Eventually, Joe had run-ins with the police and acquired a juvenile record. This further estranged him from his parents. Finally, he ran away from home.

Meanwhile, Kevin grew physically impressive, if not bulky. He participated in what sports that would allow him, frequently surprising reluctant coaches with his hidden reserves of strength and stamina. Though his periodic episodes of deafness was a challenge, he was still named all-state for his high school's football team.

He has a long-term girlfriend in Katelyn Tennyson, whom he met at the deaf school. They have lately agreed to try to maintain a long-distance relationship as she has enrolled in the pre-med program at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

That night in November

It was in the fall. Friday night. The Albany High School Falcons had just beat Gloversville, and Kevin Hamilton was a big part of that win. He stared out the window as the team bus headed back home, the sound and rumble of the engines completely mute. It was usually worse after a game, but he didn't want to tell anyone about that. It was just a coincidence, nothing more. His "sound blackouts" didn't always follow physical exertion. Just... more than usual. But he was dealing with it. And he loved football, and wouldn't give it up just for the chance to hear a little more often.

Kevin looked around at the guys. It was going to be tough, ending the season and moving on. Guys declaring for different colleges, and even Katelyn going to Maryland. He expected to be offered a scholarship to play football, but he wondered how the deafness was going to affect everything.

He was in the middle of thinking about college programs when the bus pulled to a stop in the middle of the road. It was dark, and cold, and lots of the guys were dozing on the bus ride back to Albany. They started to stir, as the bus driver opened the door and a blast of cold air swept through the bus.

Kevin looked out the window, and saw a pretty big accident blocking the road, illuminated by the headlamps. There was also someone standing in the middle of the road, seeming to be saying something to the bus driver.

Without warning, the driver clutched his ears and collapsed. Then, inside the bus, the windows began shuddering and the players and coaches all started holding their hands over their ears and grimacing in pain.

Kevin couldn't hear anything, but felt an odd tingling throughout his body. He stood up and tried to help his teammates, who were all passing out one by one under whatever attack they were under. Kevin, unaffected, moved to the front and exited the bus to confront the stranger in the roadway.

But it wasn't a stranger. He recognized the person instantly. Joe? he asked, incredulously. What was his brother doing here? He had left home several years ago, and not on good terms. His parents had often feared he would turn up dead or in jail somewhere.

Joe nodded, and spoke clearly enough that Kevin could read his lips. "It figures you'd be immune. But what if I focused just on you?" With that, Joe put his hands together and the air rippled as Kevin was hit with some sort of force. The tingling increased until it became painful. He doubled over, feeling that he was going to burst. He looked up again at Joe, mouthing the words, "How? Why?"

Joe laughed. "I control sound! I wanted to give you a little demonstration. I was going to knock out you and your whole team. I want to watch you grovel at my feet. What would you do to keep me from deafening each and every one of them?"

The energy intensified, and Kevin screamed. Suddenly, the pain which had been welling up inside him released and Kevin was almost knocked to the ground. Images repeating themselves blasted through his mind as he blinked and tried to comprehend what he was seeing. It was like looking into a funhouse mirror; he saw images of himself standing to his left and right. But he was also registering images in his mind, as if he was seeing from multiple different perspectives. But in all those repeated images, one sight caught his attention.

Joe was standing slack-jawed, looking around at the bunch of Kevins in front of him. Kevin, and his others, each took a single, synchronized step towards him and balled his fists. This is very strange. But I think you're in trouble, Joe.

Joe recovered from his astonishment quickly, and sent a vibrational blast at the base of a electricity pole which sent it collapsing toward the bus. A second blast shook the bus' engine sending gasoline spraying. Kevin and his duplicates scattered as the pole came down, then he quickly realized the danger the team was in.

A couple of his dupes worked on righting the pole and yanking the frayed wires away from the pooling gasoline. The others worked on pulling his still-unconscious teammates and coaches from the bus. By the time the team was safe, Joe was long gone.

Kevin was hailed a hero, saving the busload of players and coaches that had stopped at an accident when the powerline freakishly collapsed on it. He kept his secret, though whatever blast of energy from his brother permanently deafened him. His duplication power took some getting used to. He learned that he could create nine additional copies of himself that were connected to him through some sort of mental link. He used his power to have the absolute best senior year -- he could be in several places at once; go to every party, and still get all his studies and practices in.

Oh, and he had to be really careful when playing football. He soon discovered his strength was increased tenfold.

Hmm. Tenfold.