Difference between revisions of "Tom Harriman"

Latest revision as of 14:53, 8 November 2013

Tom Harriman

Name

Thomas James Harriman

Alias

Orion, Doctor Harriman
(ex) Captain Untouchable

Age

31

Born

Truro, Cornwall, UK
5 June 1978

Height

6'3" (191cm)

Hair

Brown

Eyes

Blue

Marital Status

Not Married
Living With Alice Kelly

Mother

† Louise Harriman

Father

† Walter Harriman

Siblings

Jason Harriman
Katrina Harriman

Children

None

Abilities

Propulsive Telekinesis
Archery, Martial Arts

Affiliation

Treadstone Industries
S.H.I.E.L.D
Avengers

Tom Harriman is a British mutant, who spent several years living in America before leaving to work with S.H.I.E.L.D as a consultant. At one time a Captain in the Parachute Regiment, he has a PhD in Astrophysics and, as a research scientist for Treadstone Industries, earned local renown in the Los Angeles area for his work trying to understand the physics of mutant abilities, rather than just the genetics.

Harriman has also been a costumed vigilante on several occasions. In New York he wore a ninja-inspired costume and used the name Captain Untouchable, until he was nearly killed by a pyrokinetic in a robbery-gone-wrong. In Los Angeles he chose the name Orion and adopted an archery theme inspired by British folk hero Robin Hood. Now working with S.H.I.E.L.D, he continues to use his Orion alias - albeit with a redesigned costume - to participate in missions with the Avengers without the public being aware of his involvement.

History

Though born in Truro, Cornwall, Tom spent most of his young life in Scotland. His father's career with the Royal Air Force forced the family to move regularly: to provide some stability, Tom and his elder brother Jason were sent to boarding school in their early teens; this separated Tom from his baby sister, which he continues to resent.

Though an aggressive child, Tom still performed well academically. He showed an aptitude for mathematics and science, and went on to study physics at the University of Glasgow. He originally considered a career as a teacher; but after an argument with his recently-widowed father where Walter claimed that he lacked the kind of discipline necessary to amount to anything, Tom joined the British Army to prove his father wrong.

Tom's career was short, but noteworthy: he became an officer in the Parachute Regiment, and achieved the rank of Captain, but was ultimately given a medical discharge when the Army discovered that he was a mutant.

Looking for a fresh start, Tom travelled to New York for postgraduate studies at Empire State University. He found academia frustratingly unfulfilling however, and eventually resorted to vigilante activity as an outlet for his aggression and military conditioning. As Captain Untouchable he fought crime in New York for several months, until an encounter with a pyrokinetic left him with fatal third-degree burns. Tom was completely healed in the hospital by an unidentified mutant, and the NYPD declined to press charges for vigilantism, but media backlash following his recovery caused the University to ask for his resignation.

Tom moved to Los Angeles, trying to put as much distance between himself and New York as possible. He managed to secure a job teaching high school science at Steve Rogers High School, but after registering as a mutant as a sign of good faith, the school was pressured into dismissing him by concerned parents. The frustration pushed Tom back into his crimefighting habits, this time as Orion; he continued to moonlight as the archer vigilante even after he accepted a research job with Treadstone Industries in their Applied Sciences department.

Walter Harriman was murdered in the summer of 2009 by a mutant terrorist named Hurucan. Not satisfied that his sister was safe alone in Britain he invited her to stay with him in Los Angeles, sharing an apartment with Tom and his almost-girlfriend Alice Kelly. While on a theoretically romantic retreat to a resort in New Mexico, they were attacked by Solomon and Diana Latona, as per Hurucan's orders. S.H.I.E.L.D responded to the attack, and offered Tom a new job as a Consultant on "mutant science".

Family

Walter Harriman is Tom's father. He was recently killed by the mutant terrorist Hurucan, who blamed Walter for the death of his son. During the Cold War, Walter was a member of the British counter-mutant team, Operation Damocles. Tom and he had an antagonistic and confrontational relationship; father and son had not spoken for several years when Walter died.

Jason Harriman is Tom's elder brother. Jason took his role as eldest child very seriously, which often caused friction with the more irresponsible Tom. The two argued and fought regularly, Jason believing that Tom constantly "ran away" from his problems; Tom on the other hand thought of Jace as too bossy and controlling. Ultimately, Jason was the more successful of the two, and has a lucrative career with the Crown Prosecution Service. He has a daughter, Louise Harriman.

Katrina Harriman is Tom's younger sister, by nine years. Being so much younger, her relationship with her siblings is not as close as she would like; also, having been raised by their father as a single parent, she has picked up many of his worst habits. Katrina dropped out of university after Walter died, and lived with Tom in Los Angeles; she now works for Treadstone Industries, as the personal assistant to CEO Dahlia Ericsson.

Alice Kelly is Tom's roommate and, after over a year of mutual nervousness and covert courting, is his girlfriend. Alice was nervous of a relationship because of the potential harm she might be able to cause Tom with her mutation; Tom has promised to use every resource at his disposal to help her learn to control and feel comfortable with her abilities. Alice is currently living with Tom in accommodation provided by S.H.I.E.L.D.

Abilities

Harriman is able to accelerate objects with telekinesis, but only in a straight line moving away from him. He describes this as "1-Dimensional Repulsive Telekinesis" (1DRT); others simply refer to his "Push Powers". He can use this to project and accelerate objects that are close to him, such as rocks, lose change, knives, and arrows; to add extra kinetic force to his punches and kicks; and to "push the ground away", slowing his descent during a fall.

As a former Captain in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army he is a trained paratrooper, a proficient marksman, and is familiar with military protocol, tactics, and leadership. He has a black belt in kung fu, and also has experience with kendo and aikido. He has a good understanding of astrophysics, particle physics, and quantum mechanics; he is also a qualified teacher and has taught High School science.

Out of Character

Jace has been around on the site since January 2007. He knows all the things, including board lore, random trivia, and really really terrible jokes and puns.