Computer Operation /TL:7 - 12; Carpentry - 12; Freight Handling - 11; Intelligence Analysis - 10 Mechanic /TL: 7 - 14; Motorcycle - 15
Exactly how Hank Simon got to be like he is today nobody knows, but there are some signs that he was an experiment to test some new technologies regarding merging flesh and machine. If he knows himself, he keeps it a safely guarded secret. Witnesses who claimed to have seen him being drugged and kidnapped in a small pub in Liverpool have disappeared, and it was a long time ago that someone contacted the police about the mysterious disapperance of Hank Simon, hard working carpenter and harbourworker. He claims that his first memories of him since the change is that he staggered along a desserted countryside road somewhere near Brighton. He wore a worn, rugged trenchcoat and a grey beret with the name Alain Trevis in it. At first he thought that that was his real name, but as he regained his memory he remembered that it wasn't so. He discovered his current state when he stumbled into a barn to have some place to sleep and undressed. In horror he saw and realized why his body had felt so strange: Almost every part of him was replaced by machinery. The first ability he noticed was that he was many times stronger than before, and after some experimenting he found out that he could lift 750 kg (1500 lbs.), or if he realy tried: 4 tonnes! After a few days of more experimenting he discovered his other power, one after the other. He could jump almost 15 meters (17 yards) high and 70 meters (78 yards) long. Being almost a machine he only required sleep one night / week and was also able to hold his breath in 1 1/2 hour. His body was very reinforced and could easily withstand small arms fire, and even if he were to be injured, he could activate some kind of self-repairing function (if he concentrated for a few seconds) to heal small and medium damages. His eyes, being very sensitive to light, only needed the light of a clear nightsky (starlight needed, though not moonlight) to see clearly. He also soon discovered the light flamethrower in his right arm, with a range of 18-20 meters (20-22 yards) and doing damage equialent to a revolver, it was good protection against foes he couldn't reach. His only problem was that nobody wanted to see him in his current state. Wherever he showed up, the people called the police and made up stories about what he did. Deciding that the only thing left for him to do was joining the IST he contacted them and offered them his service. After some initial testing he was admitted and sent to Washington for training (for those of you who use the Gurps IST book, assume that he has the package given to all IST). When he returned he was a full fledged member of the IST London. He also discovered some more powers (like the ability to zoom in to things far away, and to use his voice syntheziser to mimic all kinds of sounds). Unfortunately his bode generates a powerful magnetic field which disturbs radio and videoreception when he's around. When in combat he still is the simple man who attended bar brawls at friday nights. After one or two inital blasts with his flamethrower he charges straight into close combat and enjoys a jolly good punch out, relying on his strength and protective abilities, as well as his selfrepairing powers.