Steve Pritel

"'*Steve!' I'm exasperated, but I'm laughing too. His stubbornness is part of what makes him my dad.*"
—Tori Pritel, *Masterminds*

**Steve Pritel** was Tori Pritel's surrogate father. He attended the University of Alabama, where he met his wife, Elizabeth, at a water polo match. Together they moved to Serenity, New Mexico, for jobs in the Plastics Works—the headquarters of Project Osiris, which was disguised as a traffic cone factory. The two lived there for about twelve years. It is likely that Steve had a different last name before he was given the name Pritel (Czech for "friend") for the peaceful atmosphere of Project Osiris.

## Biography

Steve Pritel attended the University of Alabama, meeting his future wife in the bleachers of a water polo match. Sometime during college, Steve had knee surgery, leaving a barely visible line which Tori Pritel later recalled when discovering the computer chips implanted in the clones' necks. He was also a rock climber before moving to Serenity, but still kept ropes in his house, which were borrowed by his surrogate daughter when planning to infiltrate the Plastics Works.

As both Steve and Elizabeth had student loans to pay off and didn't want to be apart, the two of them moved to Serenity and were employed in the Plastics Works; however, it's likely that they worked for Project Osiris as researchers or scientists instead. Together, the couple raised Tori as her surrogate parents for twelve years. For their fifteenth wedding anniversary, Tori created a stained-glass panel for a door in their house, which they were very proud of. Steve had also set up an artist's studio for Tori in their attic.

### *Masterminds*

When Tori attempted to persuade him and Elizabeth to go on vacation, Steve declined, insisting that they already had everything they needed (in reality, Tori wasn't able to go outside Serenity without being affected by its border). Much to her exasperation, he set up a virtual tour of an art gallery on her computer instead.

Upon Tori's return home from a visit to the park with Eli, Malik Bruder and Hector Amani, Steve struck her forehead with a piece of popcorn. More soon followed, with Steve insisting that there was an art to it. When Tori finally caught one, her surrogate parents questioned her on where she had been.

Later, when she snuck out of the house at midnight to meet Eli, Malik and Hector again at the Plastics Works, Steve got wrapped up in a long West Coast baseball game. He also helped Tori with her math homework, going over the equations each week.

Steve and Elizabeth were discussing Malik's fate in their bedroom while, unbeknownst to them, Tori eavesdropped while positioned on the wall outside. Steve was opposed to the idea of him getting "weeded" and referred to as just a number, while Elizabeth insisted on going along with the plan. When Tori's mind wandered, counting down the last things until their escape from Serenity, Steve picked up on her behavior and asked if she was okay.

After the clones escaped from Serenity, Steve and Elizabeth went through Tori's belongings in an attempt to find clues pointing to where they had gone, and took away the photos of the whiteboards in the Plastics Works to remove the evidence of Project Osiris. They then traveled to Poseidon Resort and Water Park along with the other remaining residents of Serenity as part of Felix Hammerstrom's plan to hide. Upon finding out about this, Tamara Dunleavy sent a team of investigators there, who took several photographs of the people there. Steve was among them, and the sight of him nearly reduced Tori to tears.

## Personality and traits

Steve has a great sense of humor. He can be stubborn, but he knows how to have fun. Steve is also kind, which is shown when he refuses to send Malik Bruder away from Serenity, even when his wife believes that this is the right thing to do.

## Relationships

### Victoria "Tori" Pritel

"*I look nothing like either of my parents. My dad insists that he found me on eBay. He's joking, obviously. He calls me Torific and I call him Steve.*"
—Steve and Tori's relationship, *Masterminds*

Along with his wife, Steve spoiled Tori and spent a fortune finishing the attic so she could have an art studio. Steve gave her the nickname "Torific", a pun on "terrific". In return, Tori always called him by his first name, Steve, despite him believing it would be more appropriate for him to address her as "Dad". He often told her that she was the princess of his heart.

### Elizabeth Pritel

Elizabeth and Steve Pritel met in the bleachers at a water polo match at the University of Alabama. According to Tori, it was love at first sight. They moved to Serenity together, not wanting to be apart, and both were hired to work for Project Osiris.