DNase

In Costume

DNase is a guerilla organization that was formed by escaped H.E.L.I.X. test subjects Hyacinth and Denise. The group works tirelessly to disrupt HELIX operations, rescue their friends and other test subjects, and ultimately bring down HELIX through any means necessary.

The group has made no public declarations of its goals, preferring to operate in the shadows, gather intel, and strike HELIX assets at strategic moments. Since HELIX is not a publicly-facing organization and their villainy is not well known outside of the people who've directly interacted with them, DNase's attacks on HELIX facilities and personnel are generally reported by the media as terrorist activities, corporate espionage, or industrial accidents.

Although the group's vengefulness and willingness to cause extreme harm to their former captors has caused friction between DNase and some in the hero community, these tendencies have become more subdued after several joint operations with the Big Team.

## History

The group was formed outside of the Motel 66 in ████████, ██ in early January with the goal of bringing down HELIX and finding/rescuing other test subjects (notably Holly, Dash, and Gestalt).

After a couple months of information gathering and attacks against HELIX, Hyacinth and Denise caught wind of an ambush set by HELIX to capture Ares, another escaped test subject. They helped foil this ambush alongside Eclipse, The Weatherman, Princess Anaya, and Jaime, and they afterwards petitioned Big Team for help rescuing their friend Holly. Big Team was instrumental in helping them rescue Holly from her pursuers, though most of the HELIX attackers (including the bounty hunter Dez) managed to escape.

Some time later, the group encountered the Big Team again at the Halcyon City Museum of Culture and History. DNase had broken into the museum with the intention of stealing the Coil of Apep, a magical artifact that they believed was needed to save their friends Dash and Gestalt. After The Weatherman's lightning accidentally charged the Coil, a portal to The Spirit Void was created and DNase was brought there alongside the Big Team and Dez. Eclipse, The Atlantean, The Weatherman, and Phalanx protected Dez against DNase's attempts to end her life, though sided with the team later when Dez attempted to capture them. Within the Spirit Void, Big Team helped destroy three HELIX memory anchors that were sealing the memories of Denise, Hyacinth, and one other subject (later revealed to be Gestalt). Afterwards, The Weatherman surreptitiously took the Coil of Apep and gave it to DNase to help the search for their friends on the condition that they not try to kill HELIX members and sympathizers. The group reluctantly accepted and exchanged numbers with The Weatherman and The Atlantean, and have tried their best to hold to their promise since then.

After the repeated extraction of and experimentation on magical sap from the Zodiac Tree by organizations within Halcyon City, the tree's defenses released massive Spectral Zodiac Beasts that caused major destruction within the city itself. As the attack happened, DNase sought out the Big Team for help invading an inter-dimensional HELIX research facility to rescue their friend Gestalt and stop the Zodiac Spectral Tiger. Spurred on by Holly, DNase (now comprised of Holly, Denise, Hyacinth, and Dash) helped rescue citizens until running into The Weatherman, The Atlantean, Eclipse, and Focus doing the same thing. Using the Coil of Apep and Dash's powers, the group warped into a HELIX facility where they encountered a newly outfitted Dez, as well as Faultline, a doctor who had experimented on the group in the past. After temporarily subduing Dez and Faultline, DNase and the Big Team fought a difficult battle with a HELIX-controlled Gestalt who was attempting to bring the Zodiac Spectral Tiger into their hivemind. Big Team and DNase eventually prevailed, freeing the Zodiac sap and the Spectral Tiger from Gestalt's sway and rescuing them from the facility. With the group of escaped HELIX test subjects finally reunited, Dash returned the Coil of Apep to The Weatherman, and Eclipse revealed himself as Aman to Denise and Hyacinth.

The group's current whereabouts are unknown, but based on occasional news stories citing eyewitness accounts that include descriptions of their telltale powers, DNase continues to be actively fighting against HELIX.

## Members

### Current Known Members

* Denise
* Hyacinth
* Holly
* Dash
* Gestalt