Zero

Zero is a massively influential member of the Externals team, as well as being one of the smartest people in the superhero community.

## **Origin**

Syed Silva is the first generation son of two Sri Lankan immigrants. He grew up above their technology store; repairing damaged tech from an early age. An excellent student, he was selected for a scholarship at a technology academy downtown - boarding there during the week and working in the store back home at weekends. Syed's parents and siblings were incredibly supportive; but his aunts were incredibly dismissive of his focus on only academics.

## Revelations

Syed excelled at the school and eventually graduated university years ahead of his classmates. Around this time, he caught the eye of FIT and their CEO Otto Peterson. Otto was impressed by Syed's academic achievements; but was particularly heartened by the Silva's family commitment to their son's success. Otto offered Syed a job by his side, initially as an intern but quickly working up to this second in command. The two became close friends alongside their dynamic working partnership.

When the supervillain Highlight attacked FIT labs; throwing Syed into a superhero conflict, he became aware of his boss' secret identity. Otto had to out himself as the superhero Obscura to protect Syed. Highlight was hunting down a new innovation, Zero Fluid, which Syed & Otto had been working on. The fluid was a nanotechnology-infused serum that was designed to promote faster healing within the bloodstream. Wanting to protect their groundbreaking research, Syed decided to inject the final vial of Zero Fluid into his body.

Syed began working on a superhuman tracking service to help out the Super Legion; but made a clear statement that he did not want to become a superhero himself. Syed also offered continued upgrades to Obscura's suits, developing new & exclusive technology.

Without Otto’s knowledge, the Zero Fluid began to impact Syed’s physiology - with multiple tests ran by Syed showing his biological body was being invaded by the nanotechnology.

## Powers & Abilities

### Powers

Zero is contained within a highly advanced anthrotech suit designed over years with FIT. This suit gives him digital near-omnipotence but also has enhanced strength, agility and senses.

### Additional Abilities

Flight (through suit)

Syed enjoyed this new application of his passion for technology; becoming an integral part of FIT. However everything changed on the Night of the Netherworlders; when a destructive invading force flooded into the city. Obscura was thrown into action alongside his teammates; but tasked Syed with activating his still-untested superhuman tracking service to try and save more victims. Despite a rush against time; Syed was able to activate the service and allowed the Super Legion to gather together for a last stand. Syed watched the events unfold from the labs inside FIT Tower; seeing the destruction that had been caused. In a last ditch attempt to destroy the invaders, Obscura activated an explosion and killed himself in the process. His last words to Syed were to continue his legacy and keep innovating.

## Advancements

On the day of Otto's funeral, he found a digital recording from his friend outlining what to do in such a situation.

FIT was handed over to Syed in totality. The whole business was his to run and develop as he saw fit. Syed decided to take his challenge head on; planning on modernising the company and working towards new advancements. However - since his death, the FIT board directors had been made aware of Otto's superhero antics as Obscura. They unanimously voted to take back control of the company so that their property would not be used without their approval again; it would also allow them to sell any equipment on the open market without consequence. Syed was ousted from the company; with corrupt legal rulings making it impossible for him to hold on. The final straw was when the lawyers threatened Syed's family business - and Syed signed everything back over the board. In a final act of defiance; Syed emptied the Obscura labs and wiped all FIT systems clean of his work - whilst still allowing hidden routes back into their databases. Syed felt his family's home was now at risk from FIT and decided to drop off the grid, moving into the Midnight Bunker alongside his new friends the Externals.

## Superheroics & Betrayal

Using his skills, he was able to modify Obscura's suit massively to create his own body armour. Secretly this suit was also supporting his failing biology; the Zero Fluid taking more and more control of his body. This suit allowed him greater access to technology as a whole, becoming a hybrid of cybernetics and drone technology. Zero became a core member of the founding team - both in field work and the development of their base the Midnight Bunker.

The biggest event of this period happened when it was revealed that Zero's teammate Chi was a double agent for the villain Deacon. The resulting fight was disastrous, destroying their base and causing serious damage across the team. Syed was amongst the worst impacted by this betrayal - the collapsing Bunker had left him trapped underneath the rubble. In a final act of innovation, Syed downloaded his conscience onto a secure cloud system  (something he had developed upon realising the outcome of the Zero Fluid injection) as his body passed away.

## Zero V.2

With their teammate seemingly killed in the destruction, the Externals mourned for Syed. Unbeknownst to them; Syed had uploaded his conscience into a cybernetic body that he had secretly stored in his family's shop. This new body was a huge upgrade for his super-heroics; but took some time to mourn for his human body. Zero eventually revealed himself to the Externals; who as a team decided to explore the world and help others elsewhere.

Zero now acted as a whole cybernetic being; with his conscious operating inside experimental cloud technology. Zero was supported by Samwise; a drone which acted as his backup whenever the physical body was hit beyond repair.