Otis Byrne

Otis Byrne, also known as Goldfinch, is the current leader of the Hyperion borough of the Harborne Boys syndicate and the second most powerful man in the organization behind its leader, William Duncan. He was pronounced the leader of the Hyperion borough upon the assassination of its previous leader, Elijah Crawford, during the end stages of the Southern Albion Gang War in 2691; following this war, he has guided the group deeper and deeper into a relationship with the Hyperion Commission, causing a major internal rift to grow as a result. Otis stands now as the only opposing figure to Edward Duncan, who seeks the former's downfall.
== History ==
=== Early childhood ===
Otis was born on Hyperion in 2646 to two destitute parents amidst the concrete and steel jungle of Little Philippines. Later landing in the Hyperian foster care system, Otis was passed from orphanage to horrid orphanage all throughout Albion, accruing skills in fighting as he sought to spar with anyone and everyone that got in his way. In his teens in 2662, however, he was spotted and picked up as an adopted son to the leader of the Harborne Boys at the time - Shaw Duncan - due to his scrappiness. He would become the brother to Shaw's first adopted son, Elijah Crawford. Both kept their surnames as a result of their age upon adoption; Shaw saw it needless to rechristen them.
=== Rise to power ===
Elijah was groomed to rule the Hyperion borough of the Harborne Boys as a result of Shaw's inability to father children out of both biological and religious reasons, as Shaw was biologically impotent and a zealous Catholic; he refused to receive reproductive augmentations of any kind nor opting to use artificial insemination on a surrogate. This left Otis in the position of a "forgotten son"; although he was still shown love by Shaw, Otis's hunger to prove himself as the dominating force in anything drove Otis against his eldest adopted brother in numerous occasions. Shaw's death in 2670 after a bomb detonated in his hovercar ushered ascension of Elijah as the commander of all Hyperian Harborne sets, followed up by Otis being declared his second-in-command. Both of their ascensions were approved by William Duncan, the reigning Chairman of the Harborne Boys from the Earth borough.
Otis stayed his hand in attempting to gain further power in the organization, keeping his oath of loyalty to his older brother. His cousins and true biological members of the Duncan family were nevertheless suspicious of him, including Edward's father and Shaw's younger brother, Gary Duncan. This suspicion would grow, as by 2675, Otis had wrested control of multiple lucrative enterprises away from other Duncan family members, including the illegal importation business of alien flora and fauna. Gary would die in 2685 right after the birth of Rex, gunned down in a motel parking lot in the Southern Albion Outlands beyond Outland Gate by unknown perpetrators; this had coincided with Gary's confession to his wife, Claudia, on his need to act against Otis.
=== Southern Albion Gang War ===
In 2688, the Southern Albion Gang War broke out, and Otis urged his brother to align the Harborne Boys with the Hyperion Commission in order to survive the combined onslaught of both the Legion of the Damned and Hyperian law enforcement. He would then serve under the Lorenzo Concordat, directly leading assault cadres into Maogang and throughout Southern Albion in fighting both police and Legion forces alongside some of Gary's sons (including Lucian and Edward Duncan). He built a massive reputation from these forays, becoming renown for saving fellow Harborne Boys from their deaths and valiantly leading assaults on the Legion in direct actions. During this conflict, he would be severely wounded, necessitating a large degree of cyberization.
In 2691, near the end of the gang war, Elijah's convoy was ambushed while leaving a meeting with Hyperian Commission officers. He and his entire entourage were killed, leaving the Hyperion borough without a leader during its most pressing time. Otis automatically assumed control, stopping Edward's older brother Lucian from disputing the ascendance by directly asking William on Earth for the seat of commander first. William granted this request, and Otis was received as the leader of the Hyperion borough of the Harborne Boys by Commission leaders upon their celebration of the war's end in June of that year.
=== Present day ===
Since his commencement of power, Otis has ruled the Hyperion borough with an iron fist, relegating the trueborn sons of Gary Duncan (and thereby William Duncan himself) to nothing more than two-bit businesses and titular titles within the organization. With Otis reaping massive profits, and declaring even closer ties to the Hyperion Commission, the situation has massively frustrated Gary's four sons - who seek vengeance upon the suspicion that their father and Elijah were both murdered by Otis in his ambition. This has made Lucian, Edward, Finley, and Rex begin a plot to overthrow Otis, even with the latter declaring Edward as the now-near-powerless title of "General" in 2694 as a means to sate his fury.
== Appearance ==
Otis is a heavily cyberized man standing at an impressive height of 6 feet and 4 inches tall. His towering stature alone is enough to intimidate those who stand before him, but it is his menacing presence that apparently leaves a lasting impression. Otis is a man who has seen many battles and has the scars (and augmentation replacements) to prove it.
Despite his many cybernetic augmentations, Otis's face remains mostly human. His features are chiseled and rugged, his jawline sharp, and his cheekbones prominent. These features are often hidden under his heavily grown beard and mustache, however. He has thick black hair that is often slicked back for a sleek and professional appearance when not under a hat. His blue eyes, hidden beneath designer sunglasses, are piercing and intense.
Since the end of the Southern Albion Gang War, Otis has gained some weight, and it is noticeable in the way his clothes hug his broadened frame.
Otis's tattoos tell a story of his life and his allegiance to the Harborne Boys. His chest and arms are covered in intricate designs that represent his membership within the organization, and the many battles he has fought in their name, ranging from Chasten to Maogang.
== Personality and traits ==
Otis is highly ambitious and aggressive, possessing a fierce determination to succeed in all his endeavors. He is an excellent fighter, having acquired his skills through years of fighting; first while in the foster care system, and later as muscle for the Harborne Boys. Otis also possesses excellent leadership skills, as evidenced by his ascension to second-in-command in the Hyperian borough, and later as its leader.
Despite his intense drive for power, Otis is fiercely loyal to those he considers his family and has kept his oath of loyalty to his adopted brother, Elijah Crawford. He is also shown to have a soft spot for those who have shown him kindness, such as Shaw Duncan, who adopted him into his family. However, Otis's intense desire to prove himself as the dominant force in anything often drives him into conflict with those closest to him, as evidenced by his numerous altercations with Elijah.
Otis is also a shrewd businessman and has managed to amass a significant amount of power and wealth for himself and his organization. He is not afraid to use any means necessary to achieve his goals, even resorting to violence when necessary. Otis has also proven himself to be a capable military strategist, as evidenced by his leadership during the Southern Albion Gang War.
However, Otis's ruthlessness has made him many enemies, particularly within the Duncan family, who suspect him of being responsible for the deaths of Elijah and Gary Duncan. This has made Otis paranoid and distrustful of those around him, and he is always on the lookout for potential threats to his position of power.
== Equipment ==
=== Weapons ===
He is the current owner of two custom-made gold-and-black trim Ubertino LP95 pistols. These pistols, which he has nicknamed "Maria" and "Magdalena", were originally stock-issue LP95s that he used during the Southern Albion Gang War.
=== Augmentations ===
Otis is known for his impressive arsenal of augmentations, which make him a formidable force both in the streets and in combat. Many were received following his wounds in the Southern Albion Gang War. His enhanced vision and analytical capabilities, combined with his advanced communication and armor systems, make him a difficult target for his enemies to take down.
== Properties ==
Otis Byrne's reign over the Hyperion borough of the Harborne Boys has been marked by his shrewd business acumen and ability to expand the organization's criminal empire in a multitude of ways. One of his greatest achievements is his substantial holdings in Jade City, the prosperous metrozone that serves as, arguably, the economic heart of Hyperion. Thanks to his connections in the Hyperion Commission and his intimate knowledge of Jade City's real estate market, Otis has managed to acquire an impressive portfolio of properties throughout the city and the surrounding metrozones.
At the center of Otis's holdings is the Nexus Heights Tower, a skyscraper that serves several middle-sized corporate tenants (and actually serves as the Harborne Boys' primary headquarters on Hyperion). He acquired ownership of this tower directly from one of the Harborne Boys' real estate shell companies, which had been the prior official owner. The tower, which stands at an impressive 240 stories tall, boasts state-of-the-art security systems and luxurious amenities. It is here that Otis oversees the day-to-day operations of the Harborne Boys. Residentially speaking, he primarily lives in the Goldfinch Penthouse, nestled at the top of the tower. However, Otis also owns a large estate in Empire Ramparts, 19183 Trajan Court, which he uses as both a vacation home and secondary headquarters for the Harborne Boys.
He also owns several other properties throughout Jade City as a part of exploiting Jade City's extremely expensive real-estate market, including high-end condominiums, luxury hotels, and exclusive restaurants and nightclubs. One of his most profitable investments is the Jade City Grand, one of the many luxurious hotels that caters to the Hyperian elite.
Otis's real estate holdings are not limited to the city's more glamorous properties. He also owns several warehouses and storage facilities throughout Jade City which he uses to smuggle illegal goods (such as xenoarchaeological artifacts) and store his vast wealth. These properties are heavily guarded and kept under strict surveillance, ensuring that no one can break into them without Otis's knowledge.
== GoldShield Element ==
Otis is the founder of the GoldShield Element, a private security enterprise based out of Jade City which he uses as a front to garrison his properties and funnel heavy weapons through for the Harborne Boys. He also uses them for hire by other organizations, such as his overseers in Pearl Thule Capital, to collect additional profit.
== Database Entry ==
== Trivia ==
* Otis has a preference for expensive, high-end cigars, and often carries a cigar case with him wherever he goes. His favorite brand is a rare blend of authentic Cuban tobacco imported from Earth that he keeps in a secret humidor in his office.
* Otis has a particular dislike for synthetic and electronic music, finding it "soulless and lacking in creativity." He much prefers classic rock and roll, which he considers to be the "true voice of rebellion."
* He has a passion for collecting vintage firearms, particularly those manufactured before the 22nd century. He is particularly fond of a pair of authentic Colt 1851 Navy revolvers, which he keeps in a display case in his office.
* Due to his past, Otis has a soft spot for helping children, particularly those in need. He frequently donates to orphanages and children's charities throughout Hyperion.
* Despite his position as a powerful gang leader, Otis has never been married and has no children. He has been known to have a few short-lived romantic relationships over the years, but has never found someone who he felt was the right fit for him.
* Otis has a love for alien flora and fauna, a passion he developed during his time as the owner of the Harborne Boys' illegal importation business. He keeps a small private greenhouse in his penthouse, where he cultivates rare and unusual xenoflora species.
Category:Harborne Boys
Category:Characters
Category:Work in progress
Category:Criminals
Category:Christians