Rapid Run
| F In 40 |
A Mn 75 |
S In 40 |
E Mn 75 |
R Un 100 |
I Mn 75 |
P Mn 75 |
Res Ex 20 |
Pop Gd 10* |
| Health: Karma: |
230 250 |
* Amongst humans, at least. Rm +30 to fellow Autobots, Rm -30 regarding Predacons / Decepticons.
Origin:
As are the other two members of Team Bullet Train, not to mention the Autobots in general, Rapid Run is an electromechanical entity hailing from Cybertron, a transforming robot sent to earth to protect it from evil. He may also be from another time period, making him doubly out of place here.
Known Powers:
Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Rapid Run is a robotic entity of Cybertronian design and origin. As such, this jive-talking Autobot warrior has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Rapid Run these super human powers:
* Body Armor: like most Cybertronians, Rapid Run was built (or formed) with a reinforced steel frame, one that offers him Excellent (20) resistance to injury. This makes him immune to most basic human attack forms, and moderately resistant to his fellow robots. His defense breaks down as follows:
Ex 20 / Ty 6 / Fe 2 / Sh 0 / Sh 0
* Growth: most Cybertronians have some degree of control over their size, no matter what form they take. Due to his significant height in his humanoid mode, Rapid Run has this power via technicality; he may very well grow somewhat while transforming, but doesn't appear to do so.
According to the standard Growth rules, Rapid Run has this power at Amazing (50) rank, making him stand approximately 22.5 feet tall. Since his Strength is lower, Rapid Run can use this rank in melee combat to determine damage, but human-sized foes receive a +2 CS to hit him in battle.
The Ultimate Powers Book, however, gives Rapid Run this power at Good (10) rank, making him out to be just shy of four times a normal human's size. That would grant this Autobot warrior a +2 CS to the Strength score listed above (raising it to Monstrous (75)), thus adding 35 points to his Health score.
According to the Transformers MSH Sourcebook, on the other hand, Rapid Run's statistics are geared towards mixing it up with beings of like size. As such, when fighting folks of normal human size, he should receive a +2 CS to the damage he inflicts upon them (+1 CS per 2 CS of growth).
Finally, per the Universal Heroes rules, Rapid Run has a +1 size factor. As such, he inflicts +1 CS damage vs normal human opponents, and has 1 CS of Damage Reduction against them. On the other hand, he is at a -1 CS to hit them in combat, while they receive a +1 CS to hit him.
* Invulnerability to Disease and Toxins: like all robots, Rapid Run is highly resistant to diseases and poisons that would kill organic beings. He possesses this resistance at Class 1k rank versus organic pathogens, and at Unearthly (100) versus more chemically creative substances.
* Microscopic / Telescopic Vision: all Transformers have the ability to alter their visual sensitivity where distance is concerned. Functioning at Feeble (2) rank, this power lets them see objects up to a mile distant with ease, as well as allowing them to read items on microfiche.
* Radio Transceiver: as are most all Transformers on earth, Rapid Run is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other Cybertronian on earth, having Excellent (20) range (25,000 miles).
Gestalt: a very tight-knit group, Team Bullet Train has the power to combine their very bodies into a singular fighting form, the fleet-footed Rail Racer! Rapid Run himself possesses this power at Monstrous (75) rank, allowing him to serve as the torso and back component of Rail Racer.
Grenade Launchers: these hip-mounted weapons allow Rapid Run to fire twin grenades at an opponent. These concussion grenades inflict Incredible (40) Force damage in tandem, but their primary effect is to provide cover in the form of a wide-reaching smokescreen. They have these characteristics:
| C Mn 75 |
S Am 50 |
B Ex 20 |
Damage Rm 30 Force (concussion) |
Headlights: to better emulate earthen vehicles (and since they come in handy in the dark), most automotive Transformers on earth are equipped with a set of convenient headlights. These twin lamps can be used to generate Excellent (20) intensity illumination, making driving at night no problem.
Shape Change: as do his fellow Team Bullet Train members, Rapid Run has the power to transform into, well, the engine of a bullet train. He can do this at will, though the transformation requires a verbal trigger ("Rapid Run, Transform!"). Rapid Run's engine form has these vehicular characteristics:
| C Fe 2 |
S Mn 75 |
B Mn 75 |
P Ex 20 |
Sonic Projector: mounted in his nose cone (and likely usable in either of his two modes), this weapon can be used to startling effect by Rapid Run. The energy wave it emits can inflict Incredible (40) Stunning Force damage, allowing it to render many unshielded foes senseless with but one hit.
Equipment:
Seven Shield: a part of his frame in his train engine mode, this shield is quite handy. It generates a deflector field that bounces off any non-direct hit (white OR green combat results), as well as having a one-shot 'compression injector' built in - the latter of which inflicts Incredible (40) Force damage.
Quirks:
(none)
Talents:
Marksman: highly skilled in his personal weaponry, Rapid Run has a distinct advantage when using his built-in grenade launchers. When wielding them, or any other line-of-sight weaponry, Rapid Run may do so as though his Agility was +1 CS higher than is listed above.
Martial Arts types B and C: in addition to his skill with long-range weaponry, Rapid Run is quite a competent hand to hand combatant. He should receive a +1 CS to his Fighting on any unarmed melee strike, grappling attacks, escape maneuvers or even dodge attempts.
Shields: if he can make a green Fighting FEAT in battle, Rapid Run can get his Seven Shield (or any other defensive implement) in the way of any attack headed towards his person, likely deflecting it in a random direction. He can also use it to attack (shield smash) at his Fighting score +1 CS.
Contacts:
As a member of Team Bullet Train, Rapid Run can naturally rely upon his fellows for help if necessary - not to mention the rest of the Autobots, who value the power and skill that Rapid Run brings to any battle. Not that his battle prowess matters - the Autobots are the good guys, and take care of each other.
Likeness:
In his vehicular mode, Rapid Run appears to be a bullet train engine that is primarily gray in hue, with black and gold trim in places. Similarly, in his humanoid configuration, Rapid Run appears to be a tall robot built from spare bullet train parts - one possessed of a primarily gray and black color scheme.
Personality:
Rapid Run is the brawler of the three Team Bullet Train members. He's always quick to start - and finish - a fight, and is rather confident in his power. Furthermore, he seems to have absorbed a large portion of earth slang and culture, for he tends to be a glib, almost jive-talking robot at times.
Real Name: Rapid Run
Occupation: Autobot warrior
Legal Status: citizen of Cybertron with no known criminal record on earth
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: the Autobots, Team Bullet Train
Height: 22.5' (approximately)
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: green
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Rapid Run is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily gray and black in hue, regardless of his form.
Story:
There isn't all that much that is well known about the history of the Autobot known on earth as Rapid Run. However, as a member of Team Bullet Train, he is one of three Autobots who have grown particularly close to humankind, since he has served as the engine of a commuter train for them for quite some time.
He did this, as did his fellows, while the Autobots awaited the eventual arrival of Megatron and his Predacon flunkies. You see, though they did not exactly know why Megatron was coming here, the Autobots did indeed know of his destination, and were thus able to prepare for his arrival well in advance.
The Autobots worked with humans for a time, helping them out in secrecy whether a disaster struck or simply in matters of convenience, until the fateful day when Megatron first appeared on the scene. Shortly after he abducted earth's greatest energy expert, Dr. Onishi, Megatron went after various energy sources.
One such source was within a powerful new bullet train developed by various human industries. When Megatron sent his Predacon goons after the train, Team Bullet Train was drawn from its role as mere trains directly into battle, at which point Rapid Run and the others became more active in the fight against evil.
They appeared several times in the Autobots' battle against the Predacons, both before and after those villains' ranks were bolstered by a relatively large force of Decepticons warriors. Either by himself or with his fellow members of Team Bullet Train, Rapid Run has helped in the fight considerably.
Of course, now that Megatron (later transformed into Galvatron) and all his earth-bound goons have been defeated and sent off-world, Rapid Run's ultimate fate is in question. He is presumably returning to Cybertron with the other Autobots, but should any Predacons or Decepticons return, he'll be sure to follow!
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