The Origin of all ThingsThe WarWhile Jesse wouldn't be born for nearly 50 years, it's important to know where she comes from. In 1911, Jesse's grandmother Bess Lynn is born. Bess was a strong, willful woman. She was ostracized because she didn't act like a female. But that never deterred Bess. She ignored people as they gossiped. Even despite the fact she had married Mr. Lawrence and had a child by the time she was nineteen. The child was named Libby. She was born in 1930. The next year Bess joined the Army at the age of twenty and became Miss Liberty. She even fought in the war effort in the 40s, one of the few women to actually see combat.
Then there was Johnny Chambers. Johnny was born in 1923. When the bombings at Pearl Harbor occurred Johnny was one of the young men in line to join the War. During the war he used his Speed Formula to help fight the Nazi's. It was around that time that he meet Bess Lawrence. The two became friends and they made up a special squad due to their unique abilities.
Start of a New BeginningMarriage and a DaughterAfter the War ended, Johnny retired from the military. He wanted to work on the Speed Formula and discover how it was able to give him super speed. He started a company named Quick Start to fund his research. During this time he married the daughter of Bess, Libby. Young Libby had the same abilities as her mother, but hated them deeply. She had watched her mother be shamed and ostracized for her behavior and vowed to be a good girl. Though she couldn't help but love the charming gentleman, a real war hero.
For a while Libby was perfectly content. In 1955 Johnny and Libby had a daughter they named Jesse.
When Perfect isn't Perfect and BreaksWhen Jesse's Mom LeftThe marriage of Johnny and Libby had always been rocky. It wasn't built to last. Something Johnny's friend had told him. Libby was too conservative. She hated anything to do with the Speed Formula and her mother's powers. It didn't make it better that little Jesse was exhibiting super strength also. As Johnny pushed his research into research journals and during lectures, Libby became more and more unhappy with her husband.
Things came to a head in the sixties. Libby's and Johnny's marriage came to a screaming end. Libby took Johnny to court and routed him. She took his company and every single dime he was worth. The only thing she left was her daughter, Jesse. Fortunately the toddler didn't remember any of this and her father never told her it was because she had super human strength and that her mother couldn't handle it.
After Libby left Johnny he started a new company; Quickstart Enterprises. Libby had shut down Quick Start, but had retained the copyright on the name so Johnny couldn't use it.
Destiny is a BitchJesse RebelsJesse grew up hearing stories of the War. Her father regaled them to her over and over. Stories of Miss Liberty and Max Mercury and Johnny Quick. And she couldn't have enough. He even bought her comics of a hero called Jay Garrick, The Flash. Her father had liked to joke that Jay was modeled after him. He always kept his identity a secret to the public during the war and after. Still he maintained that somehow Garrick was his fictional counterpart. Jesse had just rolled her eyes, much to her father's chagrin.
Jesse's desire to follow in his footsteps reached a damper as she tried to reconnect with her mother in her teen years. Libby hadn't wanted anything to do with her daughter and finally finding out the truth drove Jesse into a depression. She had tried to cope, as all teenagers do, by taking it out on her father. She blamed her dad for her mother's hate. Those years soured the girl against anything superhero related.
Jesse tossed all her The Flash comics and stopped listening to her father's stories. She ran off to college at the age of 18 just to escape the pressure her father was putting on her to follow in his footsteps. Her father had taken back up with the JSA while she was away. Unfortunately for Jesse the pressure increased when she graduated from University in '78.
Running With the Justice SocietySee Jesse RunJesse finally succumbed to her father's desires in the 80s. For a short time she was apart of the JSA. Taking a leaf out of her father's book she called herself Jesse Quick. Like her father she kept her real identity a secret. Despite herself she found her time with the JSA enjoyable. She made fast friends with the members and they became something of a surrogate family. By the time the 90s start to roll around, Jesse thinks she's found where she can be happy.
Johnny Dies at the EndJesse Becomes a CEOBut happiness never lasts. In '93 on August 3rd at 0300, Johnny died. Jesse doesn't like to talk about it, or even hear about it, but it happened. Johnny had died saving Jesse's life. The only blessing was he merged right with the speed force so she didn't have to see him die horribly. Johnny was only 70, but he looked like he was still in his 30s.
After her father was declared legally dead, Jesse took over Quickstart Enterprises, giving up Jesse Quick. It was an action she found far harder to do than she thought. Due to her father's death she finally had what she wanted when she was younger, the company. But now it was bitter sweet. The new CEO felt lost and too young for the responsibilities thrust upon her slim shoulders. She was only in her 30s with no experience. The next few years were incredibly difficult. Without the support of her friends Jesse never would have made it.
As the years grew long, Jesse slowly aged with her company. Her father's research was still going strong. Though at this point it was all theoretical because Jesse wouldn't take part. She did remember the cheers from the scientists as they heard news of a man calling himself The Flash in central city. She knew they solicited him for help in their research since Jesse refused. Last she had heard was that there might be a tentative agreement.
Jesse's Final RunReturn of the QuickNow in her 60s, Jesse has taken back up the mantle of Jesse Quick in the wake of Superman's death. In lieu of her decision she has made Seth Roth acting CEO in her place.
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mickilennial
