Senior

Character Bio:

She was just a normal Old Lady, appropriately named Ethel Falkenberg. Married for 50-something years to Harold Falkenberg, who recently passed away. Her husband forbade her from seeing her crazy wack-job brother Jake, so she hasn’t seen him in at least 30-40 years. After Harold, who was a VP for Xander Financial, died Ethel looked up Jake to reconnect because she was pissed at her ex-husband because he lost all the money in their retirement account. One of the first phone calls she made after the funeral was to her brother to spite her dead husband.

Harold had pissed away the entire retirement account, over 8 million dollars, on “business trips”, which were extravagant trips and gifts to his mistress and secretary, Sharon. Every time Ethel mentions Harold’s name she spits in disgust! She really hates her dead husband, and Sharon!

The first encounter with Jake and Ethel, after more than 40 years of not seeing each other, was the following when Ethel surprised Jake by showing up at his home.

Jake was tinkering around with a 15-year-old inner-city kid he calls “Shorty” when Ethel showed up. Shorty mowed the lawn while they talk, and he had his own harrowing mini-adventure in the background that both Jake and Ethel were oblivious to. The lawnmower went out of control and attacked poor Shorty, who was able to keep dodging away until it stopped.

Ethel: “You were right this whole time!”
Jake: “I know.”

Jake and Ethel go on a cruise at Ethel’s request with Jake’s strange younger friend, Shorty, who goes on the cruise to “carry the bags.” After 2 days of this, Jake is bored beyond belief. Contrary to Jake, Ethel and Shorty, who tells Ethel his real name is Sherman Williams, are having a great time. However, when Ethel’s spa day gets canceled due to some health issues discovered in the spa, Jake jumps on the opportunity to go elsewhere.

After they return to Jake’s backyard with the Atorian spaceship, Ethel is very blown away by the experience. Jake opens the door for her, and excitedly Ethel says, “Let me open yours for you!”, and as Jake and Shorty try to yell “NO!” Ethel pushes a button, and Jake’s door, already opening, slams onto Jake’s head, immediately severing it from his body! They land in the backyard and Jake opens his door to get out. Ethel presses a button too that she thinks will open her door but instead it closes Jakes door on him, crushing him brutally.

Ethel presses buttons in a panic – manages to open and close the door on his body repeatedly, crushing him worse every time until finally Shorty finds the right button for her door. She runs out all panicked and goes to find a passerby, “My brother needs help! Oh my God, what have I done?!?” Ethel exclaims, and rushes out of the ship. Rush is an understatement! The usually slow senior explodes out of the yard, suddenly gifted with a form of super speed! Running away at hundreds of miles an hour and Ethel must spend time getting her new “power” under control, so she can get help and bring them back. The bystander she runs into is the Beast. The Beast is a four-legged, green-skinned furred creature with cat legs and a human face with orc fangs and a blue afro. Ethel exclaims, “There has been an accident! You must help me! I recognize you- you are that Beast guy! Please help!” Without turning around she begins to move down the street, this time at her normal speed with her cane. The Beast offers his back to ride on to get there faster. She accepts, but due to safety concerns and bad directions they arrive back at Jake’s house after an hour has passed.

Ethel, suddenly remembering that there are security measures, asks the Beast to wait on the sidewalk when they arrive, and goes to the backyard. There she finds a youthful Jake, who doesn’t remember their adventure. Jake invites the Beast into the yard, and there the Beast tells Ethel, Jake, and Shorty a little bit about himself. In the yard near them still sits the spaceship and a fresh mound of dirt, grave sized.

The Beast tells both of them the story of his past.

About three years ago The Beast decided to join a corporate-sponsored superhero team. Called The Power Professionals™ and sponsored by Helion Light & Power, they were ostensibly formed to reduce crime in the Dreadzones of Century Station. They didn’t know that their real focus would be to crack down on the rampant water and power piracy in the Dreadzones. The team consisted of:

Deluge, Water-controlling surfer dude.
Talon Seeker, Mutant bird-man with electrical senses
Robo Ruby, Cyborg muscle.
Ember Shot, Pyrokinetic sniper.
The Beast, Mutant pursuer.

The Power Professionals™ last mission was a famous failure. After a few moderate successes, Helion L&P decided to ramp things up by sending their team into the Labyrinth where the most utility piracy occurred. The City Council and Mayor Zardona refused to devote any city resources to help with this endeavor – the wounds of the Bloody Monday disaster were still too fresh. In fact, even their fellow members of the Council of Industry tried to tell them not to do this. But the more Hellion L&P was told what a bad idea this was, the more determined they became to go forward with it. Hellion went ahead and sent the Power Professionals™ in with a modest backup team of mercenary soldiers. None of the mercenaries survived and only two members of Power Professionals™ returned: The Beast and Deluge. Hellion L&P fired them on the spot for incompetence and tried to prosecute them, but backed down after the story went public.

More Background on Ethel:

Ethel has a revolver – it’s registered to Harold. She knows how to use it to protect herself, and carries it always in her purse. She loves Astrology, and “new age” / “old person” stuff. She actually uses astrology to make many of her decisions- she ignored some warnings in the past of Harold’s affair, and now is determined to pay more attention to what the stars tell her. She is also a tea expert, and believes many ills can be cured by specific teas.

Ethel gets a Social Security check, which is her limited check plus half of Harold’s for income. She has a 1-year old Aircar, and needs a pillow to sit on to see in between the steering wheel and dashboard. This was Harold’s car, it was the last thing he bought – she had to sell her car to pay for his funeral.

Ethel was a freelance photographer. She’s done shows of B&W shots of stars, the moon, and the messages they send to her, usually interplayed with the cities skyscrapers. She’s had two shows:

One was a focus of the stars and skyscrapers against the night sky. Black and white.
One was the old-school forgotten ways of the ancient 50’s. Canning, Holistic, Tea… it’s all done in all 50’s color adds. Teas, herbal remedies, etc. Overly bright colors.

Her photos are all over her very unique “House of the Future”. She lives in Retropolis, Yesterday Park. Her father bought it new, and it is the only home that is left in Retropolis, for Ethel refused to sell it at any price!

There were a bunch of houses like this, but this is the last one. She gives tours once a month on the 3rd Sat of the month to help raise money. This house was built in the 1950’s as part of a development that was the “homes of the future.” Ethel owns her house. Jake’s house is in the suburbs.

Ethel’s house picture from Yesterland

Updated 9/24/18