Training Team: Sunburst

Passions run high at Mistry Academy. People fall in love, people get hurt and powers make things even more intense. What happens when you fight alongside someone you love, knowing they might die? What happens if they rush into danger, leaving you behind? What happens if they take a fatal hit and you must lead everyone else to safety?

In Team Sunburst, you’ll tell a story of love and heartache: unrequited love, doomed love, loving someone who you must leave behind, loving someone who might still be in love with someone else.

You’re a mix of juniors and seniors, who fight alongside each other even as your feelings rip you apart. Through all this, you are guided by a teacher who has seen these feelings before, who knows the harm they can do and the strength they can create.

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01: W. Joseph // Hunter

Age: Senior Student, Origin: Wonder Park Vigilantes, Alaska, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Predator Senses

W. Joseph is the cousin of the siblings M. Joseph and T. Joseph. W. Joseph grew up in Eklutna, north of the city but not too far, as a true believer in an observant Russian Orthodox family. A born hunter, W. spent more time in the valleys and mountains of south-central Alaska than they did at home. A couple of perfunctory years at Chugiak High School sort of petered out, leaving more time for long trips into the wilderness. It was on such a solitary trip when the Mark emerged – W’s instincts seemed to merge with their prey, and their senses with those of a natural predator. When they are focused on the hunt, W. Joseph can smell their closest friends and their prey up to four kilometers away, and they can predict the behaviour of their targets with chilling accuracy. None of this helped when their family discovered the Mark. W. was shipped off to the village of Aniak for “exorcism”. They walked home – 600 km, through the heart of the Kichatna mountains – and went to stay in the city with their cousins. They haven’t spoken to their parents since. W. Joseph is a loner who craves connection, a restless hunter who wants to be still and secure, and a faithful person whose faith has abandoned them.

Content warnings: Religious extremism, family drama

01: W. Joseph // Hunter Read More »

02: M. Taylor // Underworld

Age: Senior Student, Origin: The Body Snatchers, London, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Darkness

After giving up a life as a street hustler to put in work building up their home community, Taylor devoted everything to the development of the community center. The same charm and skill that was used to play cards on the streets was put to good use encouraging young people to better their lives and Taylor was left heartbroken when the center was closed down. Taylor spent weeks alone in their flat allowing the darkness to consume them, but when their landlord came to evict them, they were already gone. Walking the streets of London by night they watched the lost souls from the cover of darkness, taking small actions to help people’s lives. When Taylor found the vagrant Cole living in the ruins of the Old Cemetery they decided to turn it into a temporary refuge from the horrors of street life. But nothing lasts forever, and when Mistry Academy provided an opportunity for Taylor’s new friends to rebuild their lives and maybe finally give Taylor the opportunity to settle down that they have been seeking their whole lives, they took it.

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03: E. Ocello // Hail Cannon

Age: Senior Student, Origin: The Legacies, Brussels, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Weather Control

You are the youngest child in a long-standing family of Marked, hailing from southern Italy. The Ocello family is closely knit, loyal, loving and fiercely protective. They prepare their children for the Mark from childhood, with taxing field trips and a library of musty tomes. Your parents are members of the EUROPOL sub-branch EPIC and have a lot of expectations for you. Your were the leader of your Legacy peers, and lead with bravado.

Your Mark came late and caused a lot of sleepless nights to you and to your parents. What if your Mark was mediocre? But thankfully the Mark did come; it granted great abilities and the entire family rejoiced. Of course, that meant that you would need to work even harder to prove your worth. “This is not the time for distractions, such as frivolities and love. You are an Ocello. You need to prove that you are the best!” That’s what your parents tell you and what you keep telling yourself. But under all that facade of bravado and confidence, there is a lot of insecurity and nervousness. What if you are not good enough? What if you are not the best? Maybe at the Academy you will learn to accept the other students as peers. Or maybe, against all your parents stand for, you will realise that want something else for your life.

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04: L. Karimov

Age: Junior Student, Origin: Marked in Space, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Vibration

You were just ten years old when you came across an alien spaceship, and as a restless spirit who had spent your whole life looking to the stars, there was nothing that could have stopped you from exploring it. It was only once the ship took off with you aboard that you realised you might never be able to go home. Rampaging around the galaxy from one questionably lawful venture to another has been a wild ride that you’ve loved every minute of, but you’ve also known loneliness without your old friends and family, seldom meeting anyone like yourself. Now you’re excited about coming back to Earth, and though you know you’ll miss your adventures, you can’t wait to be around other human beings again, to find friends like yourself, and maybe something more.

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05: W. Klein

Age: Junior Student, Origin: Operation V, Unknown Location, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Energy Vampirism

Klein was dying from a degenerative disorder but their father, a powerful politician, found out about the V-Serum and stole some hoping to save Klein’s life. But he misunderstood what it would do: the serum painfully brought Klein’s Mark to the surface rather than healing them. Luckily, it still kind of worked. Klein is no longer dying, but only as long as they continue to use their power. Operation V was most interested in this success and had them kidnapped – Klein was tested in every physical and mental challenge they could devise, sometimes to the brink of death. Klein isn’t sheltered anymore, instead they have felt more pain than anyone. They have become suspicious and paranoid. Even Marino, who stood between Klein and the doctors, is still treated warily. At their heart, Klein doesn’t believe that their life is worth the energy they steal from other people to survive, but they can’t make themselves stop.

Content warnings: Degenerative disease, dying young, isolated Childhood, kidnapping, torture, suicidal thoughts

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06: E. Sola

Age: Junior Student, Origin: The Renegades, New Jersey, Training Team: Sunburst /

Power: Cold Breath

When Sola’s parents were convicted of financial fraud, they moved to Glen Rock to escape the papers, the protestors, and most, but not all of, the paparazzi. Sola feels their parents only thought of themselves, never understanding how tough the move was for Sola. When Sola started manifesting their powers, it was a release. They started small, creating ice sculptures. Now, then can create huge walls, even throwing icicles.

Sola wants to be a superhero, someone who makes the world better. They have been practicing their hero voice and thinking a lot about names and outfits. They want to erase their parents’ legacy and make one of their own.

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49: S. McDonald // Network

Age: Staff, Origin: The Original Marked Alliance, Training Team: Sunburst /

Subject: Combined Power Use
Power: Link Perceptions

You were working as an intern in multinational company when you developed your Mark. You could feel other people’s minds and even found you could hack into them, making people aware of each other’s sensations: you kind of knew this was wrong, but found it thrilling. Your secret was discovered and you were committed to a hospital, where you met Ruan. When Dr. Mistry brought you to the Academy you appreciated the training, but you didn’t like the rules she laid down. You value absolute freedom above all else, so long as it doesn’t restrict another’s freedom. On the other hand you also crave power. You don’t care if that power comes with peace or with war; for you it is not a means to an end – you don’t really mind if society accepts the Marked or not, you just want authority because it feels good. All you want is to come out on top. If the hero thing’s working for you, you’ll be a hero. If it’s not, you’ll be a villain. It wasn’t a difficult decision for you to leave when the time came. But when Dr. Mistry unexpectedly contacted you and asked you to fight against the Beacons of Purity you saw an opportunity to protect freedom and perhaps to gain back some of the authority you had before. Despite your differences, Dr. Mistry’s death was a great tragedy and you mourn her. But at the same time it leaves an opportunity for change – a chance to do things differently in the Academy. That’s why you agreed to stay on and teach ‘Combined Power Use’. You will make your presence felt, and lead the Academy in a new direction.

49: S. McDonald // Network Read More »