SteemHeroes Character Submission: Background

Alignment: Hero
Alias: Background
Name: Roger Khoury
Current Profession: Unemployed (Former: Marine Corps Technology Specialist)
Age: 35
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 400
Gender: M
Birthplace: Detroit, MI
Description: Black Hair, Brown Eyes. Slightly built, but his muscular structure is well defined and dense. Missing left eye with scar across it.
Costume: Usually just a pair of briefs. He wears a variety of colors and patterns, depending on what will best blend into the environment he’s in.
Ethnicity: Lebanese

Origin and personality

Prior to his birth, Roger’s parents emigrated to the United States from Lebanon to escape rising tensions in their home country. From birth, his parents fostered a deep love of their adopted country, which ultimately manifested itself in him enlisting in the US Marine Corps on his 18th birthday. This is a decision of which his parents did not approve, given that they had fled conflict in their homeland, many years prior.

Throughout his teen years, Roger had shown a knack for technology, and his placement tests in the corps confirmed this. He was assigned to a special ops field technology unit, specializing in infiltrating enemy installations and leaving behind virtually undetectable micro-surveillance equipment. Even before his mutation, Roger was ideally suited for this work. He received multiple commendations, due both to his technological aptitude and his uncanny ability to blend in to his surroundings, which earned him the nickname “Background” among his fellow soldiers.

Roger’s field career was cut short, however, when during a routine patrol he caught some shrapnel to the face from a land mine, resulting in the loss of his left eye. Once recovered, he stayed in the corps, but transitioned to a laboratory role. He was instrumental in the development of new Olympium-based weapons and armor for use by the US military.

After a few years, Roger started noticing changes to his body. The doctors could not explain the greenish tinge or toughening of his skin, nor his increased muscle and bone density. But when news of Olympium Poisonings began to break, it became clear that Roger was similarly afflicted. Wanting to distance themselves from the OPS controversy, the corps gave him a large monetary settlement (in exchange for his discretion on the matter) and he was discharged with honor.

During the years following, Roger moved back to his home city, becoming increasingly withdrawn from society. Being self-conscious about his odd appearance, he tends to keep to himself, only leaving his apartment when necessary. He distrusts technology, blaming it for both his altered state and the greater ills of society. He maintains hope that by removing any trace of Olympium from his life, he will eventually revert back to his former self. But in the meantime he has decided to use his new abilities to try to maintain some semblance of order in this increasingly chaotic nation, which he loves so dearly.

Abilities

Camouflage
Background can change the color, texture and pattern of his skin to match his surroundings, making him nearly impossible to see, unless he is clothed. As a result, he typically wears only briefs whilst fighting the good fight, and that only for reasons of modesty.

Extreme Physical Density
Background’s skin is very dense, to the point of being virtually impenetrable. This also renders him impervious to extreme heat and cold. His muscles, bones and organs are also extremely dense, making him a bit like a human wrecking ball. He’s not overly strong, but he hits with a force many times what should be possible given his diminutive size.

Weakness

Background has no left eye, therefore his peripheral vision on the left side is extremely impaired. Also, his depth perception is similarly impacted.