| Ironwood |
Brian Vincent was a slightly spoiled son of rich parents, Gary and Maria Vincent. He was into video games, roleplaying, collectible card games, and computers in general. He was the leader of the high school computer club, and his parents would often sponsor outings to places like computer manufacturing companies, and his father's software development company.
This all changed when Doctor Botany got a hold of him. The villain had developed a serum he theorized would bolster his control and communication over plants. The villain being a cautious sort kidnapped Brian to test the formula's effects, and to see if the teen would survive its effects.
The formula turned the teen into a eight foot tree man. His skin took on a gray oaken look and his hear turned into vines. The formula did indeed give the teen plant control powers, but also strengthened his wood like skin to where it could take quite a beating before the teen would be felled. Brian likened it to ironwood, and come to see himself as more of a treant than a man.
He hasn't had the heart to tell his parents that he survived in such a shape, so avoids them. He also knows that school is right out, so he has lost touch with many of his interests. Recently he has been living on the fringes of society, living in condemned buildings until they are torn down, and eating out of dumpsters.
He is sorely in need of a group that would look at him as the person he is, and not the freak of nature that his appearance has become.
Downtown Halycon city, one of the most prominent buildings owned by Reaver Technologies has just collapsed. The resulting debris fire has made the onlooking crowd a pile of injuried and unconscious victims. At ground zero, you hear/something that indicates a larger threat. People trapped and inured, a potential threat looms, and help not coming for at least a few minutes.
Brian is staying in a condemned office flat a few blocks over when the collapse happens. The sound is loud enough that it roars even where he is staying.
From experience, he knew that it was the sound of a building collapsing, he looked around for signs of a building falling, and noticed the top of the building going down beyond the view allowed by the surrounding buildings.
Rushing there, realizing which building it must be, and knowing that it couldn't be scheduled for demolition, he found the surrounding victims. Realizing that he couldn't do anything for those with rubble on them, as he wasn't super strong like some people were, he caused the plant life to crawl over the unconscious and injured to provide some cover from any more rubble that fell.
He then proceeded into the building, thanking his former luck that his form wasn't overly weak to fire as some would assume, he began looking around assessing what equipment was where, and carrying out the injured inside.
While he was doing so he heard a laugh behind him. Turning around he saw a taller mirror image of himself. Doctor Botany had caused the explosion.
"How good to see you again my boy. I hope you don't mind me covering my tracks as I escape, I'd hate to disappoint you after all," the villain laughed as he launched several thorns towards the teen.
Ironwood allowed the thorns to fall harmlessly, but lost the villain in the spray. He knew if the villain decided to attack, he was in trouble. According to all reports, the villain had developed not only plant powers to complement his plant control, but also super human strength.
Ironwood had to think fast to minimize damage, and hope that older heroes would show up to take down the Doctor. He used the foot long thorns to form a barricade, and took more of the innocents out of the building.
He knew now what had happened, and cursed himself that despite his powers, there was little he could do to prevent Botany's escape. If he was going to continue to be a hero, as he now found himself being, he'd need help to cover the areas that he lacked in.