Name: Evolution
Secret Identity: None - he abandoned his old life. He has several aliases, however. Principal among these are Rick Garrin, Tommy Salmon and James Korden.
Age: 22
Species: Human (Mutant)
Personality: Although friendly, Evolution tries not to get too close to anyone. He's been hurt like that before. Anyone who does manage to get to know him will find that below his mask of easy-going amiability lies a conflicted young man who's still in pain from his past.
Description: Evolution's appearance changes regularly. He can shift his basic form with almost no effort as long as he stays fairly true to his real shape (which he never uses). His main forms are listed below:
> Evolution (Hero Shape): The form he uses when he's up to his heroic shenanigans. In this shape, he's about six foot four, and muscular but not too bulky. His hair is brown and cropped short, while his eyes are a very dark blue.
> Rick Garrin: Short and, although not muscular, well-toned. His hair is a flaming orange explosion and his eyes are a bright green. Speaks in an Irish accent.
> Tommy Salmon: In this shape, he's tall and slender, with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. His eyes are ice-blue and very sharp, observing the world from behind a pair of fake glasses. A thin blonde beard follows the line of his chin. He often wears a salmon-pink suit as an inside joke.
> James Korden: A mid-height, heavy-set man with buzz-cut hair and a military bearing. Wears vests, combat trousers and boots.
History: Evolution's powers first manifested nearly ten years ago, when he was a young boy. His voice began to fluctuate wildly as he entered puberty, often changing several octaves in the course of a single sentence. A visit to the doctor revealed that his vocal chords were constantly altering, and he was quickly sent to the experts. Extensive testing revealed that his very DNA was unstable on a fundamental level, causing constant mutations that were, for the most part, reabsorbed. They kept him under observation, and soon his whole physical form began to change at random, appearance constantly shifting. He learnt to control it through meditation and concentration, but the scientists were always telling him to do it again, and he came to the realisation that they would never let him go; they would always be waiting with bated breath for whatever came next.
He hid it when he grew claws in the night, long, curved, wickedly glinting spurs of bone on his fingers. They were small at first, but he practiced in secret, slowly building up his ability. In the same way, he honed his shapeshifting, learning to hold onto a form for longer and with more accuracy, and to make himself faster or stronger or smarter.
One night, three years after his institutionalisation, he dreamed of insects. When he awoke, a full-body chitinous carapace covered his form. That was the final part of his plan - a way to protect himself. The next morning, when the scientists - unaware of what he could really do - let him out into the yard, he ran. He outpaced all the guards and disappeared, never to be seen again. He took on new faces, never again wearing the one he associates so deeply with three long years of labs and masks and tests.
To this day, he is hunted by them, but so far he seems to have eluded their attempts of capture. However, there is always the same problem: go to the aid of those in need and expose himself, or stay hidden and abandon them?
Powers:
Unstable: Evolution can gain any power he has previously discovered by changing his physical structure to accommodate it. This is normally a near-instantaneous process requiring only a thought, but strong powers sometimes need longer transition periods. The stronger a power, the more of Evolution's control it takes up - in other words, strong powers can't be combined with as many other powers as weaker ones.
Evolve: Because of his genetic instability, Evolution is always mutating. Normally these mutations are detrimental or useless and are reabsorbed, but occasionally a useful one is generated. This mutation takes effect immediately and is added to the repertoire of powers that Evolution knows.
Homo Superior: Evolution is a paragon of biological efficiency. Even in his natural form, he is stronger, faster and tougher than an identical human. This difference increases with Evolution's power level.
Known Mutations:
Attribute Boost: Evolution can channel more of his power into a particular aspect of himself such as strength, reactions, intelligence etc.
Chitin: A chitinous carapace covering his whole body. It is strong enough to stop small-arms fire and provides a decent amount of protection, but high-power shots like sniper rounds will break through fairly easily.
Claws: Bone claws sharp enough to cut through metal, this mutation is a cross between fingernails and animal claws - slightly hooked, razor-sharp spikes growing from the fingertips.
Scream: Vocal cords are easy enough to modify - Evolution is capable of emitting any sound he wishes by altering his vocal range, from ultrasonic bat-squeaks to an ear-shattering lion's roar.
Shapeshift: Evolution's physical shape is mutable. He can change his form to look like any generic or specific adult human, though he prefers to remain male.
Wings: He can grow wings and fly. Not yet mastered.