Jesse Quick
Background
- Real Name: Jesse Belle Chambers.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Johnny Chambers a.k.a. Johnny Quick (father, deceased), Libby Lawrence a.k.a. Liberty Belle (mother).
- Group Affiliation: Titans (formerly the Conglomerate III).
- Base Of Operations: NYC.
- Height: 5’9” Weight: 135 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde
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Powers and Abilities
Jesse Quick has inherited the powers of both of her parents: strength surges from her mother and superspeed from her father. While her mother’s powers are innate (Jesse does not require the external trigger that her mother did), Jesse must still use her father’s formula to activate her superspeed.
Like most DCU speedsters, Jesse has an aura that protects her from atmospheric friction, mitigating the environmental effects of superspeed travel. Her superspeed is also connected to the Speed Force like that of most DCU speedsters, for good and for ill.
The interaction of her parents’ powers also gives her some degree of flight independent of her superspeed unlike her father’s, which is totally dependent on his superspeed.
This may be related to the telekinetic blast her mother once exhibited, and it is possible she may eventually manifest other related abilities (Liberty Belle’s World at War stats included Sonic Beam, but it has been pointed out that the power shown in the comics looked more like a telekinetic push).
In addition to her formidable powers, Jesse Quick is highly intelligent and a very quick learner. She is a skilled computer programmer (she was even able to reprogram a Manhunter sleeper agent on one occasion) and has developed excellent leadership skills during her time as a CEO and a member of several superteams.
Jesse has also extensively studied the historical exploits of superheroes. When Max Mercury revealed his history, Jesse correctly correlated a number of mythical appearances of speedsters she had come across in her studies with Max’s exploits.
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History
Jesse Chambers is the daughter of Johnny Chambers and Libby Lawrence, who were better known as the famous All-Star Squadron members Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle. They divorced when she was a child, but the parting was amicable, and they shared the raising of their daughter.
However, her father was not around very often and this lead to feelings of abandonment on Jesse’s part.
Jesse grew up hearing stories of the superheroes that worked with and inspired her parents, and was so inspired herself. At some point during her childhood she discovered that she had inherited the powers of both of her parents. When she entered college, she majored in history with an emphasis on metahuman activity.
Unto the breach
Her life took a turn when the original Justice Society of America returned from the battle of Ragnarok in limbo. She observed her childhood heroes from afar, and soon joined them in their battles, taking the name Jesse Quick in honor of her father.
Following the loss of several members during Zero Hour , the JSA disbanded. Jesse Quick joined her father afterward working with the Flashes and other fellow speedsters. Jesse Quick was even led to believe she was to replace Wally West as the Flash if something should happen to him.
This turned out to be a ruse he had undertaken to spur Bart Allen (Impulse) to take his responsibilities seriously. Jesse was very bitter toward Wally after the revelation, referring to him as “Puppeteer West.”
Shortly after this incident, Savitar returned from his absorption into the Speed Force and in the resulting battle Johnny Quick sacrificed himself to the Speed Force to save Jesse’s life.
Later career
In the aftermath of these incidents, Jesse began having difficulty with her superspeed, which would only activate erratically. She realized that this was tied to her feelings of abandonment by her father (who had left her twice, once as a child and again by entering the Speed Force) and other father figures such as Wally West.
She worked her way through these feelings and has since experienced no power complications. Having cleared up these emotional issues, Jesse Quick was happy to concentrate on her superhero career, which was much more satisfying than it was before.
She also took over her father’s position as CEO of QuickStart Enterprises, a company that started as a provider of inspirational materials (such as self-help seminars). It has since diversified into other organizational areas such as computer software.
Jesse had a brief stint with the third Conglomerate (a group of superheroes linked to various corporations) and temporarily substituted for Wally West in the JLA during the Black Flash crisis. After that, Wally introduced her into the latest gathering of the Titans, where she has been a valuable addition to the team.
Description
Jesse Chambers is an attractive young woman in a bookish way. In her civilian identity her glasses are usually perched upon the tip of her nose and she dresses in semi-formal attire.
Her costumes have changed frequently, but usually feature a red torso with yellow sleeves, stockings and trim as well as amber protective goggles.
Personality
Jesse Quick is proud to be continuing the heroic traditions laid down by her parents and their compatriots in the Justice Society.
She has struggled at times with feelings of betrayal by father figures due to:
- Johnny Quick’s absence during her childhood.
- her manipulation by Wally West during one of Kobra’s attacks on Keystone City.
- her father’s surrender to the call of the Speed Force.
She worked through her feelings and has gone on to serve in the Conglomerate and the Titans with distinction.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Jesse Quick
Dex: 07 Str: 03 Bod: 04 Motivation: Upholding the Good Int: 07 Wil: 06 Min: 07 Occupation: CEO of QuickStart Enterprises Inf: 04 Aur: 05 Spi: 06 Resources {or Wealth}: 09 Init: 040 HP: 045 Powers:
Flame Immunity: 12, Flight: 12, Power Reserve (STR): 03, Skin Armor: 02, Superspeed: 20Bonuses and Limitations:
- Flame Immunity represents Jesse’s “frictionless aura” — it does not protect her from flame or heat attacks (-2FC), but instead is subtracted from her current speed for purposes of determining environmental effects, including sonic booms (+2 FC).
- Flight is reduced to 8 APs when Superspeed is not in use (-1FC).
- Power Reserve can only be used for 2 APs at a time (-1FC).
- Power Reserve has Catastrophic Burnout — roll after each use (-3FC).
- Jesse must say the Quick Formula “3X2(9YZ)4A” aloud to begin using her Superspeed (-1FC).
Note:
Others may be able to use the Quick Formula, at the GM’s option. Current depictions indicate that the formula is nothing more than a potential conduit to the Speed Force, which seems to have a mind of its own when selecting those who can access it, i.e. GM’s fiat.Skills:
Gadgetry (Identify Gadget)*: 07, Scientist (Research): 05, Scientist (computers): 07Advantages:
Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Scholar (History of Superspeed Heroes, JSA), Sharp Eye.Connections:
Conglomerate III (High), JLA (Low), JSA I (High), Speedster Community (High), Titans (High).Drawbacks:
MPR (Near-sighted — anything beyond 3 APs looks blurry: -1CS to visual Perception Checks at such a range), Secret ID.Equipment:
Sunglasses [BODY 01, Shade: 06, Bonus: these prescription lenses also negate Jesse’s MPR)].
The Call of the Speed Force
If Superspeed is successfully Pushed to 29 APs or above, the speedster must immediately make a Will/Will check against an OV/RV of 10/10. If the speedster does not score at least 1 RAP, he hears the “call” of the Speed Force.
He must devote all his subsequent actions to breaking the “Speed Force Barrier” (Pushing his Superspeed to achieve a speed of 35 APs or higher, buying as many Pushed RAPs as possible).
Once he does, he must make another Will/Will check versus an OV/RV of 10/10. If this check fails, the speedster is absorbed by the Speed Force and effectively “dies”.
If the check scores 1 or more RAPs, the speedster is instead bounced into the future an amount of time determined by the GM and no longer must attempt to break the Speed Force Barrier (-2FC).
Source of Character: Flash and Titans series (DC Comics).
Helper(s): John Colagioia, Hartley Holmberg, Sean MacDonald, ORION, David Johnston, Eric Langendorff, Sébastien Andrivet.