If you think it's hard being a hero, try being a hero's kid brother. Richard Smith throughout the last year of high school had to deal with the pressure... pressure of the fanbois trying to get close to him just to try and get close to his sister, the mutant hero Lady Artemis. Not only a hero, but a Hero of the City, one of the founders of one of the largest Supergroups in Paragon City, the Champions of Justice. In the normal suburban neighborhood that they both grew up in, Richard now became a celebrity by proxy, "the brother." People befrended him, just to try and get close to his now famous sister. Tired of not being able to trust people, not knowing if they were out to know him, or out to use him, he cut himself off from people. He focused on his one love, the simple wooden bow and arrow. Every day, practice. Every free moment, practice. Quite quickly, he became one of the best archers in the state, and found himself invited to participate in exhibitions and contests. By the time he was a senior in High School, he was the Jr. League champion, and even the Olympic team was calling on him. The competition above the state level was far more than he had seen before, so he began persuing higher levels of training. Friends of the family connected him with trainers in Japan, where he went as an exchange student for his senior year high school as an exchange student.
Finally freed from the pressure of being "Lady Artemis' kid brother" he found himself a true friend, Akiro. They both were practicing within the same facility, Rich with the Bow and Akiro with fencing. Both had come to get away from the pressures of home, and to learn.
Richard quickly outgrew his trainer, then the next trainer. At a lost at how to improve himself, Richard begged his last trainer for a name of whom he could continue improving himself. The trainer thought, then slipped him a note. He knew of one trainer, who lived on the steppes of Mongolia, who was likely the only person that could improve Richards skill further. So, for summer break, Rich travelled to Mongolia.
His last trainer was harder than anything he'd seen before. Rich was pushed further than he ever had, taught to focus his inner fire to enhance his targetting. He began to find himself able to manipulate fire itself, and as he grew in that skill his ability to shoot with the bow improved yet further.
At the end of summer, Richard exited Mongolia, and began taking classes at Paragon University. Being in a city of heroes, he found himself just another hero sibling, in a cadre of like minded folk. But the fans were there too, but having a large crop to pick from, they did not play the same games with Richard that his high school mates did.
The first few months in Paragon went quickly, time at class, time at practice, back to class. Some visits with his sister to be shown around the city, but mostly his practice took his time. On the shooting range, he was king. But it wasn't enough. His time in Mongolia changed him, internally. Now the awards were meaningless, just boasting. He needed something more than any award could grant him, but what, he did not know.
He found out what one night travelling from the campus to the practice range. He heard a woman cry out for help. He turned to look, and down an ally he saw her fighting for her handbag with a pair of gang members towering over her. Richard remembered hearing of these guys on the news, Hellions. Bad news, and everyone was warned to stay away.
Richard instead opened up his case and drew out the handmade mongolian composite bow he prized so much, and drew out his quivver. Carefully drawing his bow, he took aim, and the first arrow flew out, hitting the goon fighting for the purse. He dropped it, but both turned to face the college freshman that had interrupted them. Richard didn't even flinch as they drew their guns and began firing. Next arrow flew, and the first guy dropped down. Then the second guy turned and began to run. Richard focused his inner fire, and focused it into a ring, surrounding the hellion in order to prevent an escape. A trick to his last trainer, but now a handy tool to Richard. Trapped, the Hellion turned again to fire, but found himself with an arrow in his side.
Richard helped the woman up, and waited for the police to pick up the Hellions. When they arrived, they took Richard in with them. Richard expected to be in trouble, after all he was not law enforcement. Instead, he found himself facing a desk seargent, pushing a stack of papers in his direction. "If you're going to do heroics here son, you have to register." Looking down at the forms, he saw the first line "Hero Name" and smiled as he filled in the only one appropriate for the brother of Lady Artemis.
And then Lord Apollon found his first assignment cleaning up contaminated in Outbreak.
