Chicane
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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chicane - an artificial feature creating extra turns in a roadway, used in motor racing and on city streets to slow cars. On modern raceways, chicanes are usually located after long straightaways, making them a prime location for overtaking. |
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| Don't think of running away. | |
| Chicane | |
| Player: @hydrothermia | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Scrapper |
| Security Level: | Rising |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Elliott Hood |
| Known Aliases: | "Brit" |
| Species: | Homo sapiens |
| Age: | 29 |
| Height: | 6'3" |
| Weight: | 210 |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Sandy Blond |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | British |
| Occupation: | F1 Driver, licensed super hero |
| Place of Birth: | Manchester, England |
| Base of Operations: | Steel Canyon |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Joseph Hood (father), Beatrice Hood (mother) |
| Known Powers | |
| Electric Melee/Super Reflexes | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Super Speed | |
| Equipment | |
| Racing suit, gloves, boots, and helmet | |
| Owns a Lotus Super Seven | |
Contents |
Personality
Elliott always tries to be a modest person, but sometimes his fame does get the better of him.
Character History
Quick Overview
Elliott Hood is the superhero known as Chicane, however his professional work as a Formula 1 driver takes precedence over being a superhero. The only times you will actually see him running around as a hero is if it's during the off season where he spends his time in Paragon City, RI. (He was able to convince his affiliates to setup off season driving sessions at the nearby Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, NY.)
Early Life
Elliott Hood was born to Joseph and Beatrice hood in Manchester, England. He was a child never known for sitting still. A natural runner, he would always want to race anyone or anything to see how fast he could go. He even tried to a race a horse once. His mother always worried he'd eventually kill himself in the process. As he grew into a teen aged boy he began to participate in track & field events, becoming the school's 'flash' in local newspapers. However all things come to an end, blowing out his knee in a regional final it ended his runner career. During his recovery, due to his limited mobility, he began to work at his father shoppe to help repair and maintain European exotics sparking a new world to him. If he couldn't run, might as well do it in a car.
Formula 1 Career
Elliott Hood's entrance into the Formula 1 circuit began a white hot start grabbing rookie-of-the-year honors that following award's ceremony. However the team he started with couldn't compete with the larger teams on the circuit, believing that their cars were inferior, and were hindering his ability as a driver he became at odds with his team. Once his contract year was up he was hoping for an offer from one of the premier racing teams to prove that his rookie season wasn't a fluke.
Signing with Lotus, his country's own team. It wasn't exactly Maclaren, but he believed he could greatly improve on what he was building on, his legacy. His work with his father helped him immensely in understanding the car's drive trains and suspensions allowing him some insight for the team's technicians on improving the car so that he could drive it better and reach towards a championship that has eluded him for the past couple of years.
At Nürburgring (Grand Prix of Germany) became the pivotal point in Elliott's F1 career. It became his only DNF (did not finish) of the season. Midway through the race the electronics information on his steering wheel went out. Trying to get it back online he punches it causing a electrical pulse to shocked him to unconsciousness. Coming to his vision changed, everything began to slow down to a crawl. He felt no different than before, even with his lapse of focus he was able to stop the car from veering into the adjacent wall. Emergency crew in tow to pick him, getting out of his car and being met by one of the crew member's getting to the ambulance touched him. "Ow," said the crew member said shaking his hand. Elliott didn't think much of it when he said it was probably just static electricity from his race suit rubbing the seat of the car. He was given a good bill of health from the doctor's, but one mentioned, "Did you know he had a higher level of adrenaline in your system than most people do after an accident."
What had happened to him that day the electrical pulse accelerated his adrenal glands and also charged his body with a high level of electricity. In high speed situations he would produce large amounts of adrenaline to accelerate his sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. With enough concentration Elliott was able to create arcs of lightning from his body. Elliott put all of his time during the remainder of the season to keep his new found abilities secret because of the fear of being reprimanded by the league. Luckily nothing was ever said after that race and Elliott went on to finish no worse than third that season giving him that elusive championship he had been reaching for.
Visiting Paragon
With trophy in hand, Elliott was on top of the racing world, but he still felt he needed to know more about what happened to him. He took his time during the off season to go London and get a thorough checkup by neurological doctors. Returning to Manchester to continue helping his father work on vehicles. He also told his parents of that fateful day. As always his mother chimed in about almost being killed, going into the detail about the electrical and chemical changes that happen. His father said, "Well, you could always become Manchester's first hero."
Elliott shook his head saying, "I have no plans on putting my racing career in jeopardy because I'm running around in spandex saving people."
"It couldn't be any worse than what you do now," his father said.
"You know how bad the British tabloids are, if they sniff anything like that they'll be all over it like a pack of dogs," Elliott said.
"You need to go to the Colonies."
"What for," Elliott said raising an eyebrow.
"There's a city full of super heroes, maybe you can get some insight talking to them about it."
"I don't know, I still have driver sessions I have to do here," Elliott said being thoughtful about his father's idea.
"I'd just go over for a weekend and see how things work there, then you can decide if you still just want to peruse your racing career."
"Alright, Pops," Elliott said patting his dad on the back.
Elliott spent a weekend in Paragon City and watched what heroes did for their everyday lives punching the snot out of anyone or anything causing trouble in the city. However there was a piece of information he never managed to get that would make for an interesting start to his super hero career.
Receiving a License
Elliott had made his acquaintance of Paragon City a month before, and he was on his way back, making the proper arrangements in convincing his associates to move his driver sessions to the nearby Watkins Glen International during his off season. At London International Airport he tried to quietly board a plane for New York City, but being England's racing poster child he got A LOT of attention. After many pictures and questions from adoring racing fans he was finally able to rest once in his first class seat. "Man, what a day... and it's not even noon."
"Can't be that bad," a neighboring business man said next to him.
"It's great winning, just not the baggage that comes with the fame of it," Elliott said placing a hand over his face.
"So what's bringing you to New York," the business man asked.
Elliott lied, "Y'know, confidential racing stuff."
"Ah, okay, sorry that I asked."
"Don't worry about it..."
With backpack in hand, he had arrived at Atlas Park's Hotel Geneva. Getting to his room, he had taken along his personal racing gear. Helmet, flame-retardant suit, gloves, and boots. It wasn't much, but at least he could run around as a hero without getting noticed as Elliott Hood. Atlas Park was crawling with thugs. "This looks like a good place to start," Elliott said. Fighting his way through the three hellions he rescued a young lady and returned her purse. Taking a deep breath he said, "This is harder than it looks."
"Thank you, sir," the young lady said.
"No problem, just doing my job," Elliott said with a shrug.
"Are you a new hero, because you don't sound very American," she asked.
"British."
"What's your name."
"I... uh, er..." Elliott couldn't come up with anything.
"Oh, dear, you don't know do you," she said.
"Don't know what," Elliott asked quizzically.
"You have to get a super hero license before you can do what you just did, thank you again, but it would be a smart idea to do that."
"Ah, okay, where do I do that?"
"At city hall, in the center of Atlas Park," as she thanked him once more and went about her business.
"Well that was awkward," Elliott said as he made his way to city hall. "The lines always this long," he asked someone in front of him. "Seems to be, took me a couple of days to decide if I wanted to and the lines were always this way." Elliott got up to the Hero Licensing Desk the woman behind the desk asked, "Name?" Caught in the same situation as earlier that day the only thing he could come up with was 'chicane'. "Okay, Chicane, here is your paperwork fill them out and turn them back to me to receive your official license."
Going Public
Hotel Geneva in Atlas Park was busier than usual. Bustling with the press and photographers. This was the spot to be today. A new hero was going to go public with his secret identity, but not just anyone it was a well known race car driver. Elliott was nervous. He had every right to be. This was the biggest thing of his career. The brutality of the British tabloids pushed the envelope enough that Elliott wasn't going to deny it, but he still worried about what the league would or could possibly do once he revealed what has transpired. Elliott Hood was going public about his Headliners status and superhero identity Chicane. Walking up to the podium in the conference room adorned with his team's logos as a backdrop he addressed the audience. "Some of you know what's about to happen, but the majority of you are going to be in shock. This day forward Elliott Hood is known as the superhero Chicane," Elliott pauses, "I assure you that I haven't changed from my time here in Paragon City, it was merely a gauge to help me as a person to find the proper insight in being able to perform as a driver and as a superhero. It is true that I have moved my driver sessions to nearby Watkins Glens, NY and I will continue to drive for Lotus when the season beginnings next year. However I hope the team and the league will let me to continue to participate this next season. That being said any questions from the press?" Elliott thought to himself, oh, here we go. Multiple tried to talk at once to get their question in. "Please, one at a time, I have all day or until I've had enough."
"Elliott, do you have super powers or do you gadgets to help you fight crime?"
"I have super powers."
"Have they in any way improved your performance behind the wheel?"
"I honestly don't believe so since I already had the talent as a driver before I received them."
"When did you know you had powers?"
"After Nürburgring, and before you say anything it didn't help me win my championship. You should ask my pit crew and engineers since they did most of the work, I just drove the car."
"Do you think you will be able to run next season?"
"For the most part, yes. Unless there is some cockamamie law that disallows superheroes to participate in F1 races."
"So did you join the super hero group the Headliners?"
"Yes, yes I did. It has been rather pleasant hanging out with them. Nice bunch of people once you actually get to know them."
"Are you dating Niva Voss?"
Elliott laughed while pointing at the reporter, "I knew that would eventually come up. It would be a definitive NO, so ladies out there don't worry I'm still available."
"What about her accused connection to that of a demon/devil-like character?"
"Alright guys, that's enough. I'm here to give you information about myself not that of rumors about the Headliners. Thank you for you time." Elliott walked out of the hotel conference room with a barrage of camera flashes. He was clearly angry with the last few questions, but he didn't let it show. He knew any hint of aggression would only fuel the fire more and put even more unwanted questions his way. He just wanted to focus on his driver sessions and his new public superheroing career.
Powers
Affiliation
Group
The Headliners - He's one their newest member.
Friends
(RP's in the works.)
- Accelerate - He likes speed, and actually enjoys conversations about cars.
- Chopkicks - N/A
- Coldcrash - Damian hasn't been around much since his initial invitation to the Headliners.
- Jam Session - N/A
- Johnny Turbo - Elliott has come to the conclusion that Johnny is a few marbles short of a full bag, even though he means well.
- Masked Outlaw - N/A
- Mass Conniption and Pyreblast - He has mostly observed their strange relationship and doesn't understand Niva's hostility to Brent.
- Lagoon - N/A
Foes
(None, at least for now.)
To contact this character's creator
- In-game: @hydrothermia
- CoH official forums: Hydrothermia
- CoH Guru forums: Hydrothermia
- Deviant Art: Hydrothermia
Creator Notes and Trivia
- Lotus does not participate in Formula 1, but for the fictional character it does.
- The symbol on the front of Chicane's racing suit is meant to be that of Lotus.
- Speaks in a British accent.
- Banner done by @High Jinks
Track Record
"13.20" - Megadeth (theme song)
"Take on Me" - A-ha
"It's Tricky" - Run-DMC
"Cars" - Fear Factory
"Route 66" - Chuck Berry
"Rebel Rouser" - Duane Eddy
"Motorcycle Driver" - Joe Satriani
