Origin

Technology is great, but it can also be a double-edged sword. I was working on a new kind of bio-adaptable computer system – basically a computer system that you can wear – storing data in fabric, that kind of thing, using organic computing. Well, during an experiment to get the fabric to “learn” what shape to mold itself to using computer-generated 3D models, I was basically an idiot and forgot to turn off one of the power-hungry pieces of equipment. You’ve heard the story before – boom! Big explosion. So, of course, my body gets bombarded with these little tiny bits of hi-tech cellular shrapnel. Lots of pain.

When I woke up, I quickly noticed that simply passing by a computer, a cell phone, a security camera – would shut it down. My body was generating a kind of “Feedback” field that disrupts technology within 15-30 feet. Not exactly a great power to have when you work with computers all day long… So I created a dampening suit – a suit that uses the intelligent fabric to counter the field, allowing me to interact with technology. Well, that’s when the trouble started.

The “Feedback” field was being “taught” how to behave by the dampening suit, and I got some pretty unexpected and “super” results when I played video games! The “Feedback” field, instead of disrupting technology, now seems to manifest itself as the powers of the video game that I played most recently – but only temporarily. After the charge is "used up", the field reverts to its normal state, in which it makes electronic devices go haywire.

As a computer scientist, I never had time to play a lot of games, so I'm a little "out of touch" with the games that are now available.  That's where Tech Support comes in!  In my original sotry, when I first realized that I was losing my memory, I went to the hospital to have my head checked.  As I was waiting, I met a young boy who seemed to have an unending supply of games in his backpack, and his knowledge of them was staggering.  He became my unofficial advisor on which games to play, and what powers would be appropriate (yes - I trusted him with my secret identity).

That boy has now manifested itself has a remarkable group of people, known as Tech Support!  You can find them through one of the links on this site - try the home page or the links page if you want to be counted among their ranks!

Powers / Weaknesses

If I play a video game for an hour, I get maybe 10 minutes of superpowers. So, if I play "Prince of Persia," I can run along walls and use some acrobatic moves to kick some supervillain tail, and if I’m lucky, rewind time for a few seconds. (At least, I’m hoping so. Haven’t been able to figure out how to do that yet. Maybe I need a special dagger….?) The more complicated the game, the shorter the duration of the “charge”. I played "Pong" once, and I could ricochet off walls for two hours.... Cool power, but it gave me a major headache.

Well, all that sounds great, except... whenever I use a power, I lose a memory. I haven't quite figured out the mechanism that triggers this, but I do know that it only happens after I use a power that I've absorbed from a video game.

For more details, see the Powers page.

Enemies

He calls himself, "Deatchmatch", but I'm making an assumption when I say "he". I've never seen his face, and the only voice I've heard has been electronically altered. The architect of actrocities, this maniac thinks that putting the lives of innocent people in danger is a game, and somehow he's decided that I'm supposed to be his pawn.

I don't know how, but he knows about my powers. His modus operandi is always the same: The local police department gets a package, addressed to me. I go down to pick it up, and inside are three video games and a note or a voice recording. On the note, or in the recording, is an elaborate riddle or puzzle that, when decoded, Deatchmatch says will allow me to avert the disaster that he has carefully planned. The video games are a taunt - sometimes one of the them is the game that I should play in order to have the appropriate powers, sometimes they are keys to the riddles or puzzles, and sometimes... well, sometimes they're just red herrings.

It's hard for me to consider "Dark Enforcer" my enemy - "Iron Enforcer" was my friend, and I think there's still a hero inside of him. Iron Enforcer has a spiritual side to him that I don't think he can simply "turn off". That doesn't mean I won't stop him if he puts innocent people or other heroes, in danger.

A Typical Day

I wake up to a mechanical alarm clock (thank goodness for wind-up clocks!), put on my dampening suit, and cross my fingers that the game I'm about to play is going to be the "right" one. If Deathmatch is on the move, it's the worst part of my day. Otherwise, the choice I make just determines how resourceful I'm going to have to be. Every morning, and I mean EVERY morning, I wish that the explosion which gave me my feedback powers had also given me psychic powers. Not being lucky, and not being able to tell the future, it's a rare day that I actually choose a game that's appropriate to the challenges I encounter later that day.

When I say, "Game on!", the field inhibitor of the suit turns off. If I've played a game, my powers are then available to me. (If I haven't played a game, then the dampening suit no longer inhibits the "Feedback field" and it's as if I'm not even wearing it.) When the inhibitor is turned off, the powers start to drain slowly, even if I'm not using them. The greater the intensity at which I use the powers, the faster they dissipate. And, of course, if I use a power, I lose a memory. Every act of heroism that requires these powers is a conscious choice to lose part of who I am, and let me tell you - sometimes it is not an easy choice.

But what other choice do I have?

Feedback's Poetry Challenge Poem

Below are the original lyrics for the Poetry Challenge that can only be seen as a deleted scene on the SciFi Pulse. The Final Four (Lemuria, Major Victory, Fat Momma and I) were told to write poems about our characters (unbeknownst to us, we would later be asked to sing them!).

I chose to do a "comic book in poem form". Yeah... it's kinda long. But I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

And after you read it, check out the AUDIO DRAMA based on this poem, at Darker Projects!

Or check out this video done by Ignacio Echeverria, a Tech Support member who used the audio drama as a pre-made soundtrack. To create it - he used a game (yes! a GAME!) appropriately called, "The Movies!"

Sweat was dripping from my brow,
I hung my head low.
I'd saved the older gentleman
And it was time to go.

I would never have believed
That my body'd be that sore.
But then I also never
Had believed in ghosts before.

Sure you hear the stories
And you see the movies, too.
But just how do you fight a wraith
When punches go right through?

I heard the old man's cry,
A cry of pain and fear.
On this one I got lucky -
I just happened to be near.

My "feedback field" was fully charged
With powers from my game
I'd played until my thumbs were gone
And Deathmatch was to blame.

I thought I'd solved the riddle
That he'd given me that night.
To be honest, I'd been questioning
If I had chosen right.

The riddle led me to believe
That I'd be in a maze.
Never did I think I'd see
That old man in a daze.

The cry I heard was genuine
The fear and dread was true.
I had to make a choice: to help?
Or do I press on through?

I was on a mission,
Another life at stake.
But once, I'd missed a little girl.
I couldn't make the same mistake.

The door was locked. "Game on!" I said.
(Another memory down the drain.)
"It doesn't matter!" Another scream!
This time a shriek of pain.

I had to find out where he was
Then, something I could do.
"Concentrate." I closed my eyes
And saw a birds eye view.

I saw the walls, the chairs and more,
I was seeing through the roof.
The old man clutching at his throat -
I needed no more proof.

A front kick opened up the door
I knew just where to go.
I raced inside - a muffled cry -
This was no time for slow!

I turned left, and left again
Then right and down the hall.
The old man's face came into view
But no - that wasn't all.

Around his neck the rotting hands
Of something like a man,
Grinning with the vicious smile
That only evil can.

I lunged for the attacker -
The old man was nearly done -
I went right through the ghastly form
Who turned to have some fun.

A razor claw cut through my side -
My lungs were filled with ice.
I kicked and missed (or passed right through)
And then he slashed me twice.

Unearthly and translucent
The twisted face came close to mine.
"Tonight I'll feed upon his soul,
And then on yours I'll dine."

To my mind came all my friends:
Nitro G on the run,
Monkey Woman's perseverance
Major Victory's sense of fun.

Cell Phone Girl conquered her fear,
Fat Momma and her little pranks,
Lemuria's light, Levity's flight,
Ty'Veculus with arms like tanks.

Iron Enforcer's untained heart
And great personality,
Creature with her strong beliefs -
So fierce and yet so free.

Creature - wait! "That's it," I thought.
The ghoul had turned it's back.
The coffee table's bowl of fruit
Would be fuel for my attack!

My powers were still with me,
I grabbed that fruit and took a bite!
That wraith he started blinking:
- PACMAN is alright!