Ben Young

* Default
* Cloaked

**Ben Young (The Iron Ranger)** is the titular main character of UIR. He is a young ranger with cybernetic enhancements that can regenerate and heal his body through a mysterious blue aura. He leads the Big Iron Rangers.

## Appearance:

He’s a Caucasian human of average height, with brown, short, spiked hair, a goatee and grey eyes when his aura is not active. He has an average build, with a pair of metal arms with copper, silver and gunmetal plating, with metal lower legs that share the same colored plating (not shown). He is seen wearing either a brown trench coat with blue jeans, brown boots, and a “DC Talk” shirt; or his Ranger Gear that includes a blue, button up jacket with shoulder pads with silver bolts, grey pants, and copper boots with black trimming. Both outfits he dons a red handkerchief that’s tattered and worn.

## Personality:

A rather easy going and good natured farm boy, Ben has a rather calm nature. He is an optimistic and sometimes naïve fellow, often seeing the good in others and trying his best to make things better. He’s an approachable and understanding individual, often sympathizing with others and listening to them, although He’s not one for violence, as often he tries to avoid and at times can be extremely annoyed by having to engage in it. Despite being understanding and trying to know folks, Ben seems to have zero tolerance for those using others for their own gain regardless of intention.

Evidently, Ben seems to have some knowledge in history (at least with Texas) when it came to the Alamo, and also some scientific principles like when he tried to gather how Cherry's abilities worked. It can be presumed his grandfather or supposed parents taught him this. He also has a fondness of blacksmithing like his grandfather, who he has claimed taught him the craft, and bonds over others with similar interests like with Frankie.

## History:

### **Past:**

Ben grew up in a small family in Texas, living with his father, mother, and grandfather (Michael Fleetwood). His family owned a forgery called “Fleetwood Forge”, and his grandfather has his own personal one at his home in Huntsville. Growing up, he was taught by his grandfather and presumably his father to become a blacksmith.

One fateful day though, a young boy was caught in the middle of the road with a truck unable to stop. Ben rushed in to try and save him, and while successful he was seemingly run over by the oncoming 18 wheeler. Miraculously, he survived, a blue aura coating him and healing him up in no time. It was after this incident, Dr. Styx came with The Ironworks to capture him.

### **Heart of Gold:**

#### Episodes 0-1:

Captured by the mad Doctor, Fleetwood discovered that Styx had planned to capture and hunt other monsters and crypts. Ben and his grandfather planned to escape Horror Show with a list of crypts, and put a stop to their plans. Fleetwood then gave Ben new cybernetic arms to aid them and planned to upgrade them upon returning home. However, the escape went south, with Ironworks stopping the two in their tracks. Ben tried his best to fight off the metal beast, but began losing the fight with his new arm almost breaking.

Fleetwood shot at the beast, yelling at Ben to go without him. Ben though, refused, but his grandfather tossed him his badge and told him to go on without him. Realizing his grandfather had made up his mind, the young man begrudgingly flees with a promise to protect the world like he asks. Upon escaping on a ship, Ben sees Horror Show Base No. 9 explode, believing that his grandfather, styx and the metal beast to be dead. Sometime later, he manages to return to Huntsville, Texas like he and his grandpa planned.

Breaking down in his grandfather’s forge, the young man laments and blames himself for failing to get both him and his grandpa out. With tears in his eyes he looks at the sheriff’s badge his grandfather gives him and sees the memory verse on it, remembering what it said, he then holds it close, before telling himself to press on and continue his grandpa Fleetwood’s work. Turning on the old forge, Ben creates new plating for his arms, takes some of his grandfather’s firearms, and starts his journey.

#### Episode 2: Sweet Home Alabama:

Starting off on his journey, Ben heads to the Green River in Alabama with the aid of tour guide Jeff Stills who originally Ben only intended to have be his guide into the swamp, being unknowingly stalked by the Green River monster he was seeking to protect. However, not knowing his way around upon entering the deeper part, Jeff tagged along to help Ben. As they got deeper in, the monster strikes, and briefly battles Ben within the water before he escapes. Upon getting back to the surface, Jeff learns Ben isn't entirely human himself and the Green River Monster lands on the shore as well in a dramatic fashion. The monster is a girl named Tomako Sawyer, a gator mutate who has been fending off hunters and trespassers for some time now.

While she attacks Ben, the Ranger tries to plead with her that he is not a hunter or trying to hurt her, only for her to make mention that he is "covering for the other one". Upon this statement, Toma is fired upon by a mysterious shooter into her back. The stranger reveals himself, with Ben holding Toma in his arms. She questions why he would save her, and Ben tells her once again his mission was to protect her. He then turns to the hunter, asking if he worked for Styx and informs him the Horror Show group is done. The man is confused, saying he doesn't know a Styx and that a Tycoon hired him, and proceeds to fire upon them again. Ben turns around to protect Toma further, taking the onslaught of bullets before his aura activates, stunning everyone there by healing himself and by proxy Toma. He stands up, and demands Baez to leave peacefully or else. The enraged bounty hunter tries to fire again, only for Ben to shoot the man's shoulder and hands to stop him along with Toma peforming her Birmingham Roundhouse to knock him to the ground. After the brief scuffle, Toma hears Ben out finally, and the two plan to head off.

Jeff, not unnerved by this sight, suggests he could help them, and takes them both to Fleetwood's residence.

## Abilities and Skills:

### Blacksmith:

Ben was trained a blacksmith by his grandfather, and has some knowledge about how to create his arms’ plating, as well as even bullets and fire arms. However, unlike his grandfather, he still can’t create the arms by himself and has to rely on Frankie currently for that.

### Regeneration:

Due to the mysterious blue aura that Phenomenon inside him has, Ben is able to rapidly heal his body whenever damaged. It activates specifically whenever Ben is hurt, even when something like a rock is thrown at him. It can even affect other people when his body makes contact. However, it cannot seems to mend his metallic arms. He has been seen surviving explosions, multiple gunshots, broken body parts, being run coed, and possibly more injuries. However, he still has shown to feel some semblance of pain, even though he has gotten used to it.

### Holy Aura:

While the aura has regenerative properties, it seems it can interact with things like the dead, nightmare fuel, and other supernatural entities. Due to Phenomenon’s angelic origin, the aura Ben has is of a divine nature. As stated by Necronaught it can exorcise the dead, Ben having exorcised a number of zombies, the ghost of Colonel. Travis, and successfully exorcised the souls from Highway Jack. It also has a strange affect on Nightmare Fuel, as Ironworks can actually feel pain from Ben’s aura in his Mark IV due to the emphasized use in nightmare fuel. Perhaps this is due to the vampiric origin of the substance that causes the aura to melt it.

### Marksmanship:

Ben is very capable with his 6-shooter, while not a deadly marksman he seems to be precise enough to avoid vital areas. He rarely uses this in combat, especially with normal humans, but with enemies such as Eppy, Barry and The Ironworks he uses it to try and widdle them down or immobilize them. He seems to know how to use a shotgun, as he took one with him on the start of his journey, but he gave the firearm to Jeff to use.

### Cybernetic Limbs:

Originally given to him by his grandfather, Ben has a pair of robotic arms attached to his torso, and a pair of robotic legs attached to his knees. His arms seems to be more interchangeable, as they have gone through many iterations and modifications. As of now only Fleetwood and Frankie have made him his arms with Frankie making the current ones.

### Rocket Lasso:

An addition given to him by Frankie, by pressing the bolt on his elbow for either arm, he can launch his hand attached to a steel wire cable at high speeds. It’s intended use is to grab afar items, lasso objects or people (as the name implies), as well as other functions. In its first iteration, it split his lower arm in half, now it fires from the wrist with only the hand being sent forward.

#### OVERDRIVES:

So called due to his aura going into a rather active state, Ben's blue aura going into overdrive allows him to properly utilize the holy attribute inside of it

* **Burning Blue Overdrive:**
* **Grand Rodeo Overdrive:**

## Relationships:

### Dr. Michael “Mac” Fleetwood:

Benjamin’s grandfather, Fleetwood is the father of Ben’s mother. Dr. Fleetwood was often Ben’s mentor in school, but most especially in black smithing and creating fire arms. Often at times Ben would try and sneak out to his grandfather’s house when he was young to try and do more stuff in the forge. Eventually he became an apprentice to his grandfather as well, and the two shared a strong bond. To Ben, Fleetwood is what he wants to become.

### Jeff Stills:

Originally the two were perfect strangers, but after he helped Ben save Toma the Cajun has become a valued ally to Ben an uncle figure of sorts. He serves as Ben and co’s chauffeur, piloting a number of vehicles and even has Ben’s shotgun as a gift and means of protection.

### Tomako “Toma” Sawyer:

Like a sister to the Ranger, Toma is one of Ben’s closest friends and the two share a sibling relationship. Toma and Ben’s relationship started off as adversaries as she assumed Ben was a hunter, but after he risked his life for her, the two have each other’s backs. She and him apparently do training together, perhaps sparring as Ben can’t get any stronger physically without modifications to his arms. He is her spotter during workouts though, and both share wrestling styled, tag-team moves in combat.

### Tobias “Toby” Rivers:

Best friend to the iron Ranger, the two grew a close friendship and understanding during an escape from a Yokai owned casino. The two often banter and make chides and jests at each other, but are solid Bros to the end. Haze seems to be more street wise than Ben and also more of a womanizer, while poor Ben gets flustered around any woman showing their affection.

### Francesca “Frankie” Winters:

Ben’s lover and mechanic, Frankie and Ben share not only a passionate love of other each but a mutual respect as well. Starting off as a mechanic for Ben’s van and arms, Frankie is a place of counsel for Ben and in general a shoulder he leans on, as he is the same for her. Ben gets rather bashful and gushy around Frankie, but also treats her with the upmost respect and care.

### Barry Idol:

A sort of rival to the metal clad Ranger, Barry and Ben share different ideologies and perspectives on strength and how the world works. Barry treats everything as “the fit survive” while Ben claims strength is more about will power than phsycial abilities or genetics. The two often clash and act as foils to each other’s plans. Despite their battles, Ben doesn’t seem to hate the barracuda mutant, but the same can’t currently be said with Barry.

### Necronaught:

Meeting at the Alamo, Ben and Necronaught share a complicated relationship. Both with to stop Horror Show, but Ben condemns the German necromancer’s methods of using the dead to fight and get the job done. After learning the necromancer saved his friends from Creed, Ben is conflicted on if he can consider Necro an ally or perhaps a potential threat. Regardless, both are apprehensive allies to combat Horror Show.

### Dr. Styx/Dr. Drizzel:

The man who took everything from Ben, Ben started off hating Styx and vowed to put an end to his schemes. After Ironworks went rogue though, Ben discovered the tragedy in Styx through his original personality, Edward Drizzel. While Ben despises Styx, Ben finds sympathy and pity for Drizzel and wishes to find a way to bring him back and destroy Styx somehow.

### Ironworks:

A David and Goliath like rivalry, Ironworks was the creature that killed Ben’s parents and has been a thorn in the Ranger’s path to completing his Grandfather’s mission. Ironworks has a history of pummeling and brutally defeating Ben in each encounter up until recently, with Ben only surviving due to his aura or because Styx recalls him. It was only after a grueling battle and activating Phenomenon did Ben finally manage to overpower Ironworks. Ironworks looks down at Ben, taunting and goading the boy, and cause of it Ben bares a grudge and also fear of the devil machine.

### Isiah Impact:

Though their interactions have been in crossover events and out of the UIR universe, Ben and Isiah are rather good friends and rivals in a sense. Ben, though more put together and proper compared to the neet, gets rowdy and easily excited with him. The two have formed a friendship over their mysterious circumstances with their powers and enhancement origins.

## Trivia:

* His last name, Young, is a reference to artist Neil Young, as well as indie artist Jonathan Young. The song “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young also plays a part in Ben’s placement and role in the story and how Dr. Fleetwood views his grandson. Contrasting this, another Neil Young song named “Old Man” inspired Ben’s admiration to his grandfather and longing to be like him.
* His “DC Talk” shirt he wears throughout most of season 1 is in reference to the Christian band dcTalk. Their songs “Jesus Freak” and “Supernatural” play a part in Ben’s inspiration and abilities of being an undying and regenerating cowboy.
* His arm mounted shotgun is named “Little V” after Indie metal artist of the same name, Little V.
* His iconic revolver is named after the Marty Robbins song, “Big Iron”. The song itself plays an inspiration for Ben’s role and character.
* Ben is confirmed by Rust to be based off of Beowulf of the Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf. His name Ben Young being in reference to the warrior.
* One of his abilities with his aura, Grand Rodeo Overdrive, was named after Japanese Rock band Granrodeo.
* Ben takes inspiration from many popular Western characters, such as The Lone Ranger, Vash the Stampede, and the Arizona Ranger as prominent examples.
* His main inspirations for appearance stem mainly from the Lone Ranger, Ash Williams, and Cyborg 009.
* Ben is one of the oldest characters in terms of creation, along with Barry, Mumzy, Ironworks, Paradox, and Black Betty.
* In earlier concepts, Ben was an amnesiac who wanted to discover the origins of his powers and arms. His mission to discover the origins of his powers were kept, but the amnesiac plot was dropped due to Rust believing it would strip of him of having a proper personality.

## Gallery:

"Here's Ben when he was a persona from before high school before I decided to make him a proper character"