Christian Archer

[Christian]

*Brief warning: there are several explicit lyrics and a few in dialogue, mainly left in to try to capture the character and the background which he comes from*

"Free, the name is strong. It can mean ten things in one, its dedicated to my boys who grind from ten to ten. In other words all day duck the cops cuz they wanna be [Free].”

Chris bobbed his head as he listened to a track on his iPod. He was emptying out a drawer from a worn down dresser. He took a look around the room that had been his home for the last... three years was it? It was a little nicer than the last. There were eight beds, four of them stacked two high. The small barred window echoed the lyrics that flowed through the small buds in his ears.

“Man, them gates is strong and when that boy locked down and he can’t get out and he lose a couple pounds and his skin get pale, and he’s sittin in his cell til his patience gone, you know [Free] way be feelin your pain.”

There wasn’t much to pack; wasn’t much room to put stuff anyway. A few sets of clothes: a Philly’s fitted, the Eagles hoody. He tossed a worn-down notebook on top of it all before zipping up the duffel bag. His head kept the beat as he looked over the beds. Everyone else was in school today; it’d be easier this way to just duck out.

“ I got twelve homies doin the same, and if they had bail, homey, they’d be out. But they don’t so they sitting for a minute, that’s the price of the game when you in it yuh [Free]dom get strippin away.”

It wasn’t like anyone else would be getting here fast. Most of the other kids would be here 'til they were eighteen. Some wouldn’t even make it that long. He walked over sitting down on the neatest of the bottom bunks, it hadn’t been used in a month now. It would be filled soon enough.

“But [Free] way ain’t all about the drama, I seen bullets come up out of lamas and go into melons. And leave boys killas leakin like Aunt Jemima. Fuck what ya man think, that boy gone but he ain’t [Free].”

Chris ran his thumb over the best post. Two S’s were carved into it, with what looked like a wing on each side of them. His expression didn’t really change, though the memory was still there. He just kept his head moving with the music. It was his last goodbye, in a way. His body felt heavy now but he managed to push himself up as he walked over to the dresser.

“Ain’t a damn thang [Free] in this world but your boy got a mean plan, to get my team out the ghetto with my boys in stilettos til we rich man.”

This wasn’t really a plan, it was just what needed to happen. He picked up a bus looking over the destination. Paragon City, Rhode Island. It wasn’t like this talent was going to make him any real money. It was the kind of thing you could use to prey on others to get what you want. But that wasn’t him. There was a school, a special one for kids like him. Kids like Keenan.

“They say the best things in life are [Free] but I can‘t tell…”

He didn’t pay for the ticket to Rhode Island; he wouldn’t be paying for the special school. This trip did have its price, though. He’d be leaving the city he grew up in, the neighborhoods, the streets. It was all very familiar and it was all going to change. The few friends he had, the few who didn’t completely freak at what he could do, they would now be several states away.

His thoughts were interrupted as a pair of arms grabbed around his waist hugging him “Noooooo my homey all packed already! You were gonna leave without sayin' anything!”

The half tackle was enough to jar one of the buds in his ear loose, so he was able to clearly hear who his assailant was.

“Seaaaan what the f*** dude, no touching! Come on, you will end up all freaked out in the corner! NnnnnGhhhh off!!”

Chris did his best to push him away, trying to struggle free. The other boy let go, taking a step back.

“I heard you were leavin' at 10, how you gonna play me like that? Just duck out and skip town. You even say anything to Shari?”

Chris composed himself, tugging at his sleeves and eyeing up the other boy. Sean was a friend, one of his few, but they weren’t all that close. He had only showed up six months ago. Keenan, Shari, they had been there since he could remember.

“Hell no dude, why bother. You can tell her after I leave. Tell her I got sick and died or some shit, I don’t care.”

“That’s harsh bro, she does care you know. 'Sides, where else she gonna get her vanilla shake!?”

Sean reached out to try to hit him hard on the backside; Chris tried his best to move, getting struck on the leg. They both laughed at the old joke, Sean much louder than Chris.

“Dick it wasn’t like that! Shut the hell up man! I dunno… I‘ll write her or something once I get settled in. I mean there ain’t nothing either of us can do anyway. I told her I was leavin, she knew it was comin'.”

The other boy calmed himself, still half amused at his own antics. “Awlright homey, take it easy. You know I just messin' wit ya. She gonna miss you though, she gonna be pissed you didn’t say goodbye”

Chris nodded pulling his knitted cap over his eyes “Yeah I know, you can tell her for me dude.”

Sean nodded “I’ll tell her yer gone up there to find some rich white girls, I googled that shit, there’s this school nearby----”

The punch to his arm was swift and hard as Sean pulled back rubbing it “Oww, man what the hell!”

Chris cracked a smirk, adjusting the strap on his shoulder.

“You need something to remember me by, bish.”

“Come on dude, lets hit Pat’s, then we can walk to Washington, I need some food for the ride, and I figure you can hook me up yo.”

Sean groaned reaching into a pocket “Dude, I was savin this for the weekend. Seriously man, you are the cheapest bastard ever. You’re really gonna make me buy aren’t you?”

Chris flashed a smile and bumped his friend's shoulder. “Yup, lets roll, I don’t wanna miss my bus. Don‘t worry homie, I got you.”

---

The bus pulled up to the stop.

“Alright man, I’ll… I’ll catch you later. Say bye to Shari for me, and if you mess with her I’ll kill you dude.”

Sean forced a laugh and waved “Take care, homie. I’ll watch after her.”

There was a moment where they both dropped their front and acknowledged each other before Chris stepped back onto the bus, finding his way to a seat, sinking into it. Sean was busy making a production of the goodbye out the window. It made him laugh and roll his eyes, Chris flipped him off. As the bus pulled away, he waved.

-------------

It had been three months since Chris had been in Paragon. He started out moving to a home in the Row, he kind of liked it there. It was familiar in a way, but it didn’t last long. When they learned about what he could do, he was quickly shipped to Saint Joseph’s. Chris was moved to the science wing of the school with a few other students, though kept mostly isolated until they could determine just how his mutation worked.

For nearly three months he sat there, getting tested, waiting for results, watching TV, doing homework. There were rumors about him, what exactly he could do. Anywhere from a walking plague, to inducing nightmarish comas on people he would touch. When it came time and ample testing had been done, he was moved out into the general population with the proper precautionary measures. That didn’t stop many students from giving him a little extra space in the hallways.

-------

Chris walked into the classroom for the first time; he had a swagger to his walk, an air of arrogance about him. Pride. A sour expression on his face for no real reason. It was harder to pull off in the uniform but somehow some of its intended effect still managed to come through. His hair was a mess, like he had just taken off his cap before coming in the building. When he sat, he all but sprawled out in the seat, legs wide apart his eyes cutting around the room to see some of the faces look to him.

He was saved in a way as the teacher, Mr. Lowery, arrived soon after he sat down.

“Alright before we start off today, we have a new student joining us. Mr. Archer would you stand up.”

Chris gave a look around before pushing himself out of his seat, standing there feeling awkward after only a few moments.

“Uhhh, yeah can I sit down now?”

Mr. Lowery spoke up: “Christian?”

“Chris’ fine, man.”

They seemed to give each other an obvious once over; Chris brought his hands in front of him, holding them at his waist. He held one open, all five fingers extended, the other cupped into an O beneath it. He didn’t know why he did it, even if he was right. Something about the man behind the desk made him think it and maybe his hands just did it out of habit.

Mr. Lowery caught the sign and smirked “Chris here has some experience with the law, that puts him right on track for today’s discussion. Have a seat, Mr. Archer”

Chris let out a deep breath, sinking back into his seat; he was glad to be out of the spotlight...

[D. Planet]

Hey Chris, we already know each other, I'm Mal. Right. Hope you're getting around the school OK. Let me know if you need any help.

[London Zentaro]

Hey Roadie, step it up!

(smiles) So far? It's been all good. I'll catch you around.

[Blitzen]

(whispers) Isn't that that kid that was quarantined with that disease?

Oh! Hey Chris! Good seeing you up and about and I'm glad you're feeling better. Give a yell if you need anything. I usually carry around a bunch of Cokes in my back pack, I can throw in an OJ if you want. Vitamin C. S'supposed to be good for your immune system.

GO FLYERS!

[Thorn Hawk]

Heya Chris! I'm Mike, but everyone calls me Thorn. Don't worry, I'm not nearly as spikey as I look. *Grins* See ya around man!

[Christian]

i15 Update

After being let out of quarantine Chris has done well to settle into his surroundings at SJS. With the help of special clothing he has been able to roam free in the general student population with only one recorded incident of someone being exposed to the toxins in his body. While working with the staff and on his own he has learned to lessen the intensity (as well as increase it for patrolling purposes) putting him a bit more at ease around others. It does however require a small bit of constant focus on his part to maintain this state. In side effect to the toxins, and the adrenaline rush they can produce allows him to perform near super human feats (On a small scale when compared with other supers around him) Such as burst of speed, the ability to dodge incoming attacks or increased strength. It has been discovered he can overload his system for a short period of time allowing for all these effects to take place at once. Nicknamed "tier 2" it comes with the cost of a severe physical and mental crash as everything catches up with him.

Socially he has found a small group of friends in the Band "Out of the Blue" working with them to help set up their equipment and keeping it maintained. As well as carrying it all, despite his suspicions the band members put bricks in it for him. Though he is more active socially, he still finds himself the most comfortable on the outskirts of the crowd, likely still a lingering fear if someone were to freak out from contact the staff may want to stick him back in quarantine.

Though he maintains his lack of tact or social grace his mood has lightened towards others in general, and his demeanor much more positive since his earlier days at the school.

[Blitzen]

Chris!

Stay well, okay? Drink lots of juice. I think the vitamin C is supposed to be good for you.

-Sam