Brian Smith

Ever since the death of his older brother Robert Smith, Brian has been a depressed loner. He mostly blames the AMF for Robert's death because he had

## Brian Smith

### Eye color

Blue

volunteered himself to be a test pilot for a new line of fighter-jets Atlantech was developing for the military. The test unfortunately ended in disaster once the jet's engine mysteriously caught fire. Robert hadn't been given much time to eject himself from the craft let alone react to the situation when it plummeted straight down, crashing and killing him instantly. Brian had only been about 12 years of age when he witnessed this tragic moment, and several years later it has still stayed with him.

Despite the immense pain the loss had caused, Brian has kept Robert's burnt up looking dog-tags and wears them around his neck hidden beneath his shirt. Brian also wears his brother's leather jacket which he eventually grew into once he turned 18. Growing up, the Smith family were far from poor and after the death of both their parents Robert became the guardian of Brian. They both survived off of their parent's inheritance money while Robert worked a few side jobs before he had enlisted in the AMF.

After Robert's death Brian was put into foster care with a family he did not respect at all. Once he turned eighteen he opened a new bank account and deposited the rest of his family's inheritance, and then rented himself a one bedroom unit in a rundown building in Downtown Atlantis. Brian likes to pretend that he is poor by living in the slums, especially with the city's high crime rate. And because of his disheveled appearance Brian is just viewed as another tweaker or bum. He has only ever been mugged once and the only items that were stolen were the rest of his cigarettes and a lighter.

Brian doesn't appear to have any friends, although he does chat with people, especially the Card Shack's bartender Enrique. Brian never orders any drinks but water and likes to trash talk the AMF and their supporters. In Atlantech The Early Days, Brian discovers that Enrique doesn't seem to believe the AMF are the enemy, and even mentions that he feels sorry for the way they are treated. This in turn angers Brian and causes him to leave; only to return the next day as if that argument had never even happened.

Brian claims to be a loner but likes to point out the flaws in everyone else. He does this with both Enrique and Victoria (though not to her face.) He likes to believe that he sees people for how they really are, while refusing to take a look at himself and see the person he's become. Enrique doesn't appear to have any qualms with calling Brian out when necessary; especially when he's being too opinionated for his own good. However, one thing Enrique notes is how Brian claims to hate the AMF yet he seems to go out of his way to stay close to their base and the places their soldiers like to frequent. (The Card Shack being one such place.) Brian then makes the excuse that he sticks around this area because its close to home. Enrique doesn't seem to agree but they leave it at that.

In Atlantech the Early Days, Brian was one of the first characters introduced, yet seemed to fade into the background while the story focused more on Justin, William, Victoria, Lynne, and many others. Brian would occasionally make an appearance in a few chapters and then disappear for several more. In one significant scene Brian is seen kneeling before the grave of his brother on the day of what would have been his 24th birthday. This scene is actually the big reveal of Brian's ongoing depression, because at the same time Justin Church is trying to figure out who else was in the picture he found that belonged to the deceased test pilot.

Atlantech: Days of Darkness is where Brian begins to become more of a main character, because at that point in time he is going through some personal growth where he learns to accept his anger or "darkness" as local psychic *Madame La Rouge (real name Belva Dewitt)* explains to him. In seeking closure over the loss of his brother Brian indirectly seeks answers from the mysterious clairvoyant.

He also accidentally runs into Justin Church (who has been discharged at the time) and learns that he used to be a soldier and that he knows how Brian's brother died. Justin makes the connection once he catches a glimpse of Brian's charred dog-tags; putting two and two together. Brian refuses to listen (because he already witnessed it) and runs off hoping to never ever see that kid again.

The second time Brian comes across Justin is when he's at the Card Shack seated at the bar and spies Justin along with two other soldiers (William and Jayce) walking in and taking a seat at a booth. Brian waits until Justin is distracted to sneak out and make a break for it.