Social Butterfly of the Livewires (Marvel Comics)

Social Butterfly


Context

Livewires was a 2005 mini-series set in the Marvel Universe. The titular characters are advanced androids and gynoids , optimised for special intelligence and tactical operations.

The series was written and partially drawn by Adam Warren, an American artist who first became known for spin-off sequels of successful manga .


Background

  • Real Name: N.A..
  • Known Relatives: Other Livewires.
  • Group Affiliation: Project Livewire.
  • Base Of Operations: Mobile.
  • Height: #‘#” Weight: ##lbs.
  • Eyes: Brown Hair: Blonde


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Powers and Abilities

Social Butterfly is designed for heavy duty social interaction.

She has a number of systems to aid her in this, including:

  • Micro management of facial expressions and body language.
  • Subliminal infrasonic vocal cues.
  • Artificial pheromone production.
  • Field induced direct manipulation of the brain.

She is capable of getting targets to give her any information she requires, and then forget she even existed.

Usually, in an operation targeting a particular individual, the team will acquire extensive background material information on the target. This allows for Social to customize her personality and appearance according to the target’s preferences.

Other abilities

She has also exhibited the ability to jump at least 50 feet vertically.

Social can scan a target’s retina, fingerprints, and DNA.


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Furthermore, all Project Livewire mecha have the same basic design. It:

  • Gives them a durable body, able to survive significant damage.
  • Increases their reflexes and abilities to superhuman, but not too superhuman, levels.
  • Allows them to alter their physical appearance (such as hair colour/style/length, facial features, etc.).
  • Allow them to run as fast as a jeep.
  • Enables them to stick to walls.
  • Makes them able to replay and share their memory files.

They share a group intranet, which allows them to communicate by thought. This is their main method of communication with each other.


History

Social Butterfly is a “semi-autonomous, artificially intelligent, limited-nanofunction, humanform mecha construct”, or “mecha”. The R-word [robot] is considered politically incorrect by the older Livewires.

Project Livewire

She was created by the top-secret, quasi-governmental R&D program Project Livewire. It was based on the technologies used to create the Mannites and SHIELD’s LMD’s . Project Livewire built ten mecha, six of which were trained and tested at the Project. The other four were left deactivated until they were needed to replace lost members of the team.

These mechas have all been programmed to be absolutely loyal to Project Livewire. They thus follow the main goal of seeking out and destroying other top-secret, quasi-governmental R&D programs. They have been provided with a list stating the priority they are to be given.

When they were programmed, the head programmer was aware of a logical hole in their directives. It meant that as the only ones hard-wired to be absolutely loyal to Project Livewire, the mechas were the only ones that could be fully trusted to fulfil its directives. As a result they killed all the human members of the Project, and set out on the road to fulfil their programming.

Mechas in the field

They performed a number of missions sabotaging other top-secret, quasi-governmental projects. Yet they remained undetected, either by making things look accidental, or by arranging for other targets to be blamed for their actions.

Social Butterfly character design sheet

On one mission they uncovered a link to the “White Whale”. That was the highest priority target on their list. They stowed away in a container of inert nanofluid that AIM was trading to the White Whale and managed to get on board its rogue helicarrier.

The White Whale turned out to be a hive mind, commanded by a couple of Nick Fury LMD’s infected with a Hydra nanoware attack virus.

White Whale

They were detected soon after arrival, and they found themselves overwhelmed. With Cornfed and Gothic Lolita already disabled, Social had a hole shot in her which caused serious structural damage. Taking an anti-matter grenade she jumps towards the heart of the White Whale. However she was dismembered by a Mollywire gun before she could reach her target.

After Stem Cell destroys the White Whale she gathers the remains of Social Butterfly, and the other Livewires, intending to rebuild them.


Personality

Constantly cheerful, chirpy, playful and friendly, Social is programmed for all kinds of social interaction. She effortlessly puts people at their ease.

When on a mission she modifies her personality based on her target. But among her team-mates, she’s generally chatty and excited.

Like all the Livewires, she has been programmed to be completely loyal to the Project directives. She would even have to give up her life if it was required for the mission. Through overrides to their programmed human personalities, they are capable of suppressing panic and anxieties. Thus, they can perform their job without such worries.


Quotes

“Hi ! My name’s ‘Social Butterfly’, but you can just call me ‘Social’, okay ? Come on out and join our orgy of secret-project destruction, won’t you ? Metaphorical orgy, that is.”

“Sorreee…! I’m just unforgivably touchy-feely and physically demonstrative, aren’t I ? Comes with my role, y’know !”

“Oh, I’m just fine, honey. Except for my poor meltified legs. Hey, nice aim on that plasma breathing, y’big flamer !”

“You my mecha, Corny !”

“You rule with an iron hand, mecha !”

“I’m gonna get my brute force on, and go all explode-y.”


DC Universe History

The Livewires could be developed from the technologies of Professor Ivo. The rest of their history could remain more or less intact.



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Social Butterfly

A 1132 Point Character

Dex: 06 Str: 05 Bod: 08 Motivation: Follow Programming
Int: 05 Wil: 05 Min: 06 Occupation: Saboteur
Inf: 08 Aur: 07 Spi: 07 Resources {or Wealth}: 002
Init: 019 HP: 045

Powers:
Chameleon: 04, Cling: 06, Detect (DNA): 04, Hypersensitive Touch: 10, Hypnotism: 10, Jumping: 04, Microscopic Vision: 10, Mind Over Matter: 08, Radio Communications: 12, Recall: 12, Running: 06, Self-Link (Gadgetry): 12

Bonuses and Limitations:
Chameleon: User’s Clothing Does not Change to Match (-1).

Skills:
Charisma (Persuasion): 10

Advantages:
Attractive.

Connections:
Livewires (High).

Drawbacks:
CIA (Follow Project Livewire directives).


Design Notes

Since all the Livewire mechas were created together I’m assuming that some powers, which have been exhibited by multiple members of the team, to be common to all of them (i.e. Running, Cling, Recall).

By Gareth Lewis.

Source of Character: Livewires (Marvel Comics) by Adam Warren.

Helper(s): KalEl el Vigilante, Sébastien Andrivet, Dr. Peter S. Piispanen.