Forethought

Forethought is a Chinese superhero and member of the Tiger Squad.

## Biography

Cheng Tengfei was a mathematical prodigy slated for a brilliant career: headed to the best schools and assured of a high-paying position after graduation. But while he was attending advanced classes at the University of Beijing, the campus was attacked by Menton, a cruel and powerful psychic villain. Menton was engaged in a running battle with a trio of Chinese psychic heroes, and as their battle raged across the city it culminated in a duel on the University campus. The sheer power of their warping psychic abilities caused portions of the school to be torn away and flung into the Astral Plane, stranding dozens of students in an unfamiliar and hostile world of the mind.

The students banded together to try and survive this nightmare, but with no way to return to Earth it was only a matter of time until they succumbed to the dangers of the Astral Plane. After months of wandering, searching for a way home, only Cheng was left, and he would spend the next three years as a stranded castaway in the dismal gloom of the psychic dimension.

Long exposure to the plane's energy, however, slowly began to alter Cheng's mind, and he began to manifest crude powers of his own. He predicted the arrival of Afterthought, a Chinese psychic, and journeyed to meet the hero upon his arrival in the Astral Plane. Surprised to see the young man, Afterthought carried him back to Earth where he had been presumed dead since his disappearance.

Seeing that Cheng had a growing psychic power, Afterthought dutifiully reported him to the authorities and he was brought in for training. After his powers had developed further, he was given the name Forethought (as a nod to his powers and his role as Afterthought's protégé) and inducted into the Tiger Squad.

## Personality

Forethought was always a callous and selfish young man, but his time surviving in the Astral Plane have warped him even further. He is a downright cruel "hero" and revels in the violence of his role on the Tiger Squad. He eagerly carries out even the most grim orders, and his superiors have come to rely on him heavily as he never asks questions.

At his heart, Forethought is a narcissist and cares only about himself, but he knows that serving in the Tiger Squad can propel him further than he ever could have gone as a private citizen and so acts as a model 'team player.' He does not care for his old life or the dreams he used to have, and now seeks only to rise as high as he can in the Party. He hopes to eventually move into politics, and has nothing but contempt for dissenters and other undesirables. Forethought is a leader and seventh in command in the Tiger Squad's overall hierarchy.

## Powers

Forethought is a potent Esper, with telepathic and precognitive abilities. He always seems to know where he and his allies will be needed, and helps coordinate the Tiger Squad's forces to combat the many threats facing the country. He can dominate the minds of his foes or blast them with powerful bursts of telepathic energy. He also has some modest abilities with mental illusions, though this power has always been difficult for him to manifest.

As a pure Esper, Forethought has no psychokinetic abilities whatsoever and cannot develop them.

## Weaknesses

Forethought's greatest weakness are powerful phobias related to his time in the Astral Plane. Other psychics make him nervous, as he has always had a hunch he will one day be stranded on the Astral Plane again and be unable to free himself. If he sees a foe who can clearly travel between dimensions, particularly a psychic capable of going to the Astral Plane, he can fall into a state of near-total panic.

Due to long exposure to the Astral Plane, Forethought is somewhat more vulnerable to psychic attacks than is typical for an Esper of his level.