Chi

Chi was a founding member of the Externals; but was uncovered to be a double agent for his true boss Crimelord Deacon.

## Chao Da

### Affiliation

Crimelord Deacon, The Sermon, Tribunal, Externals (Double Agent)

## Origin

Chao Da was born to a wealthy family with connections to the criminal underground in Rocket City. A gifted child; Chao was dismissed by his parents for his lack of focus on money and a career in business, but instead being enamoured with spirituality and the occult. His maternal grandmother taught him everything he ever wanted to know about this world - as she had been practicing since she was a child herself. It was here that Chao first touched the spirit world, unlocking something much greater than himself. From this moment on, he dedicated himself to the 'dark arts' and becoming their master. Once his parents found out about this, they began to disassociate from him until eventually he was ex-communicated from the family - being thrown onto the street in his mid teens. From here, Chao would make ends meet with pickpocketing and petty crime, eventually learning to create 'street magic' using his abilities. Although demeaning - he did what he had to survive. One evening he was visited by the spirit of his grandmother. She asked him to seek vengeance for her; blaming his seeming disappearance for her broken heart and eventual death. Devastated by the loss of his only true family - Chao tracked down his parents and killed them viciously with his abilities. It was here that he realised that 'feeding' the spiritual world with this darkness and anger was like an addiction - and he enjoyed the feeling. He would take control of his family's fortunes - and their connections with the criminal underworld.

## Making a Name

Chao became known as 'Chi' - using his growing dark art abilities to help out the criminal underworld of Rocket City. He became adept at disappearing into the shadows whenever police investigations came his way; discreetly pushing their focus into other areas. As the sole heir of his family's fortune, he lived in the lap of luxury but kept a distance from the outside world. Slowly he became ingrained in the inner circle of Crimelord Deacon - who took particular interest in what Chi's abilities could do for him. It was here that Chi would become familiar with the ex-sidekick turned henchman Grenade. Deacon tasked Chi with tracking the source of the Phantom's powers - eventually leading him to discover the dimension known as Netherworld. Although not part of the sacrificial ceremony that started the Night of the Netherworlders - Chi was caught in the crossfire himself when the attackers came looking for him. He was able to fight them off - but his family home was destroyed in the process. However the battle had somehow severed some of his attachment to his powers - and created an addictive urge for the power of the Netherworld (something he had never experienced before). In the aftermath,

## Powers & Abilities

### Powers

Access to immense mystical abilities; the true extent is unknown

Chi was able to track down Deacon (who was now in hiding) and created a bargain. Deacon would offer everything he knew about the Netherworld in exchange for Chi infiltrating a team of young superheroes and feeding back all the information they had on the whereabouts of the survivors of the attack.

## Inflitration

Chi made himself known to two known survivors of the Night of the Netherworlders - Devil's Kiss and Walker. With a twisted combination of emotional blackmail and black magic, Chi was able to act as a young sorcerer whose family was killed and home destroyed in the attack. Chi created false friendships with every member of the team, being integral to their early work as young superheroes. Throughout this all he would slowly infiltrate the tracking systems created by Zero in an attempt to offer information to Deacon; however this proved more difficult than he expected. Chi was seen as a core member of the team and fought in battle many times alongside the young heroes; becoming a 'wise beyond his years' council to the inexperienced members. However his attention soon diverted when Devil's Kiss started to investigate the death of her ex-friend Grenade. Despite some undercover machinations by Chi, Grenade eventually turned up alive at the Midnight Bunker and outed Chi as working for the Crimelord Deacon. A fight ensued and the team was ill-equipped for the true power of their treacherous teammate. In the battle - Chi managed to kill Devil's Kiss, Zero & Veil. The team were left devastated while Chi was seemingly crushed beneath the collapsing Bunker and was never seen again.