Zipporah Chance

Zipporah Chance is gold-band Beta with super speed and a sunny personality.  At the beginning of her third block, she is partnered with Mal Underwood. Although the two get off on the wrong foot — Mal, having expected to be paired with a high-achiever like himself, initially sees the almost-failing Zip as a burden — they learn to work together and ultimately become close friends.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Zip was born in De Smet, South Dakota, the third and youngest child of August and Jedediah Chance. It was obvious almost from birth that Zip was not quite normal: the first time she cried, her mother was alarmed by her sticky, opaque tears. Her family loved her all the same, although her enhanced metabolism meant that she was always hungry, and feeding and caring for her through infancy was financially and emotionally draining. Once she began crawling, the full extent of her powers became clear: even as an toddler, she moved unnaturally quickly. She loved physical activity, and was running almost as soon as she could walk on two legs.
Zip realized early on that she consumed more than anyone else in the house, and by six, she was consciously depriving herself of food out of guilt: "She wanted her family to be happy, and if happiness meant hungriness, she’d endure it." When she was diagnosed with malnutrition at her next annual doctor's appointment, her parents were devastated.
The Chances were proud people, and although they didn't earn much — August was a waitress and Jedidiah a construction worker — they worked hard and accepted very little help. Although Zip qualified for the PostCards aid program, her parents refused to acknowledge that they needed it. Their eldest, Lacey, ten years Zip's senior, saw that things were unsustainable, and as soon as she turned eighteen, she moved out of home and applied for the PostCard. After that, things improved for Zip, who loved to run to her sister's apartment every day before and after school to spend time with her.
Unfortunately, Lacey was stuck in an unhealthy relationship. After her boyfriend, Dirk, dropped out of college and began drinking during the day, she found herself working two jobs to support him as well as her family. Dirk didn't like how much time and money Lacey put into her family, and one day, after a full afternoon of drinking, he began berating her over her "fucking freak sister". He got one hit in before Zip, arriving for her regular after school snack, walked in on them.
Zip was only eight at the time, but though she wasn't physically strong, she was fast. She got in somewhere between two and three hundred hits before Lacey could pull her off him.Origins, Issue #4, p. 191 Dirk pressed charges.
Zip was inconsolable: "[she] had only been trying to protect the big sister that had always cared for her, but she had once again heaped hardship and trouble on the people that she loved." But her parents and sister had a surprise for her. Between the three of them, they'd been saving up, and with some help from people in the town they'd collected enough money to send her to Maillardet's Academy. They could see that De Smet was no place for her — and they wanted to give her the chance to be the hero they knew she was meant to be.
===At the Academy===
Zip scored an almost-failing combined mark of 67 for her first and second blocks. She was marked particularly low in combat, strategy and acting. Part of this is a result of her posterpower; Zip's unique perception of time functions as a learning disability similar to ADHD if she is unable to focus.Origins, Issue #1, p. 36-38 She worked extra hard in law so that she could qualify for AP Law with Sheriff Galán-Grant, who she admires.Origins, Issue #2, p. 65
At the beginning of her third block, Zip is excited to meet her new partner, Mal Underwood. However, he quickly makes it clear that he considers her a burden, upsetting and angering Zip.Origins, Issue #1 Zip hopes to have better luck with her roommate, Cindy Dunn, but is disheartened when the girl rebuffs her friendly gestures.Origins, Issue #2
Over the next few weeks, Zip struggles with her unfriendly partner and irritable roommate. She worries about Cindy, who rarely gets out of bed and eats little, despite Zip's attempts to bring her food from the mess. Mal remains prickly, and is furious when Zip causes them to be disqualified from a scrimmage match. However, he later surprises her by apologizing, and the two agree to begin running together.Origins, Issue #3 Mal and Zip begin to develop a rapport as they train. They work together in nighttime training sessions, over the course of which Mal begins to open up to Zip, and a friendship starts to form.Origins, Issue #4
Meanwhile, Cindy grows progressively skinnier and continues to stay in bed, prompting a worried Zip to approach the school nurse. Nurse Bliss reassures her, explaining that Cindy is suffering from depression and promising to check up on her. With new medication, Cindy begins to make some improvements, and Zip tries her best to help by bringing her breakfast and checking in on her in the mornings. The two become friendly, and Zip finds herself nursing a big crush on the other girl.Origins, Issue #5
The Night Games approach, and Zip and Mal agree to work cooperatively with June, Ernest, Rosario and Jack to maximise their chances of winning the extra points on offer — vital for Zip and Mal, who are still sitting on scores of 67. Things rapidly go wrong, however, and Maks and Zip are attacked. An invisible assailant hits Zip from behind and drags her into the lake, where she almost drowns; only June's quick thinking sees her rescued and resuscitated.
Mal sits vigil by Zip's bedside, agonized by his failure to protect her. Zip is upbeat with him, offering to pinky swear that she will stand by him. Rather than deriding her as he has done previously, Mal solemnly promises to do likewise.Origins, Issue #6
Mal and Zip begin joining Rosario, Jack, June, Ernest and Maks at the Galán-Grant home for informal study sessions, and the seven decide to work together to expose the Night Games attackers.
==Personality==
"She didn’t like hurting people. She wasn’t all that aggressive when it came right down to it. Nine times out of ten, she chose flight over fight. But when someone raised a hand against her loved ones, Zip raised a fist in return."
When Zip gets excited or nervous, she talks so fast her words run together almost unintelligibly.Origins, Issue #1, p. 28
"...she had yet to meet another living thing capable of moving like she did. It was kind of lonely sometimes, not having anyone around that could match her pace."Origins, Issue #3, p. 122
"Like her mother had said only too many times, the Good Lord had given baby Zipporah Chance a triple helping of ants in her pants when He’d put her together, but He’d left her moderation and impulse-control in the box."Origins, Issue #4, p. 143
"Taking the first step had never been a challenge for Zip. It was a strange thought. Moving was easiest, always. She had no idea how to make someone move — probably like nobody else knew how to make her stop."Origins, Issue #4, p. 147
"It wasn’t that she disliked being a girl. Zip liked feminine things. It just didn’t come naturally to her. While other girls were fey-like luminous in delicate things, Zip felt about as ridiculous as a bulldog in a tutu. She wanted to feel pretty once in a while, but pretty things were intimidating."Origins, Issue #7, p. 336
It’s very lonely for Zip, and she overcompensates by trying her level best to make connections with everyone and anyone. She’ll do anything to keep herself grounded.quipquipquip:"are there speedsters other than Zip?"
==Physical appearance==
Zip has short, wild red hair, which she cuts herself. She never uses a hairdryer, as it dries much faster during her morning run; this also causes her hair to fluff up into a fauxhawk. She has a freckled face, with spice-red eyelashes.Origins, Issue #5, p. 203 Being a runner, she has strong, muscular legs.Origins, Issue #1, p. 34 She is 5'4".quipquipquip: "How tall are the kids?"
==Powers and abilities==
Zip is a gold-band Beta whose body is uniquely built for speed. Her cardiovascular and respiratory systems are many times more efficient than a normal human's. Her body is able to metabolize ninety percent of the caloric energy available in what she eats, a necessity as running at high speeds requires her to burn a lot of calories. Her tears are thick, sticky and pearlescent in order to keep her eyes moist at high speeds; if she had simple salt tears, they would quickly dry out.quipquipquip: Things To Know About Color Band Classification
Zip's speed has increased with maturity and training, and may continue to increase as she approaches adulthood. At fourteen, she can reach speeds of 150 miles per hour. Provided she has sufficient momentum, she is able to run straight up a vertical surface for a distance of up to several hundred feet.Origins, Issue #4, p. 168
Zip perceives time differently from baseline humans, as her brain works in tandem with her speedy limbs. When she focuses her attention on something, she perceives the world in slow motion, allowing her to catch instantaneous micro-expressionsOrigins, Issue #1, p. 37 or see individual syllables being formed on a person's lips.Origins, Issue #3, p. 95
Due to Zip's enhanced metabolism her core body temperature is warmer than an average baseliner's.quipquipquip: "Do the Wrights' body temps run higher than baseliners?"
===Weaknesses===
Despite her enhanced physiology, Zip still needs protective eyewear and footwear for running. If she wears ordinary sneakers, she generates small fires in her wake. Althoug her joints are stronger and more durable than a baseliner's, her body still has limits and there is a high possibility that she will need artificial replacements at some point in her life.quipquipquip: "So, what happens if Zip runs somewhere barefoot?"
Zip's unusual perception of time functions as a learning disability if she is unable to focus. Mal describes it as "attention deficit disorder to an exaggerated degree."
==Relationships==
===Mal Underwood===
Zip is initially excited to learn that she has been partnered with the high-achieving Mal Underwood and is hurt when he immediately writes her off as dead weight.Origins, Issue #1, p. 30 Despite his rudeness, she perseveres, determined to prove her worth, but she struggles to maintain her positivity in the face of his constant disapproval.Origins, Issue #3, p. 96
For the first few weeks, they struggle to work together, with Mal barely even talking to her. However, he grows to appreciate her determination and "aggressive optimism", and after unfairly admonishing her for a well-meaning mistake during athletics, he surprises her by apologizing and inviting her to train with him.Origins, Issue #3, p. 118 The two begin running together, and over the course of their evening training sessions, a friendship starts to form. They grow to genuinely like each other, and when Zip almost killed during the Night Games, Mal sits vigil by her bedside and prays over her, agonized by his failure to protect her.Origins, Issue #6, p. 272
By the end of the year, Mal and Zip are close friends, and Mal seeks to show his appreciation for her by inviting her to go with him to the Pre-Holiday Posthuman Bash, a high-profile event. "I want the public to know that you are my partner," he tells her. "Next year — this year — will be ours."Origins, Issue #7, p. 323
===Cindy Dunn===
Zip's room mate initially rebuffs her friendship, and when Zip attempts to brighten up their room with strands of lights, Cindy firmly tells her to "keep your crap on your side of the room."Origins, Issue #2, pp. 87-88 As the days pass, Zip notices that Cindy is spending most of her time in bed, and tries to be helpful by bringing back food from the mess.Origins, Issue #3, p. 90 This goes untouched, and as Cindy grows progressively skinnier, Zip is worried enough to speak to Nurse Bliss, who recognizes that Cindy is suffering from depression.Origins, Issue #4, p. 144
As Cindy receives help for her depression, Zip continues to look out for her. She brings her breakfast from the mess every day, in part to make sure that Cindy does not go back to bed and in part because Cindy is more likely to eat food when Zip delivers it.Origins, Issue #5, p. 202 The two become friendly and Zip finds herself nursing a crush on the girl.Origins, Issue #5, p. 205 Later, Cindy shows her appreciation for her roommate by hanging a spare string of Zip's lights around her side of the room, eliminating the symbolic barrier between them.Origins, Issue #6, p. 291 At the end of the year, Zip hears a rumor that Cindy reciprocates her feelings, giving her hope.Origins, Issue #7, p. 373
===Ofelia D===
Zip gets along with Ofelia, who feels as strongly about swimming as Zip does about running. When Ofelia is on KP duty in the mess hall, she always gives Zip extra food.
===Nurse Bliss===
The nurse's station is one of Zip's favorite places on campus as she finds Nurse Bliss's company soothing and safe. She trusts the school nurse and will ask her advice on delicate issues, like her worries about Cindy.Origins, Issue #4, p. 142
==Trivia==
*Zip loves bright colors.quiqpquipquip: "What are the kids' favorite colors?"
*As of the end of the first year of third block, Zip has not met any other speedsters.
*Zipporah means "bird", which makes Zip and Mal "birds of a feather".quipquipquip: "All of the names are either jokes or spoilers..."
*Zip has two sleep modes: Flail and Dead. When she is antsy, she tosses and turns violently; when she is tired, she sleeps so soundly that Cindy sometimes has to check that she is breathing. One of the reasons she trains with Mal at night is so that she can sleep decently.quipquipquip: "Zip: sleep headcanon"
*If Zip were at Hogwarts, she'd be a Gryffindor.quipquipquip: "Hogwarts houses"
==Appearances==
*Origins (POV character)
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Gold-bands
Category:Betas
Category:Origins characters