Name: Melissa Anne Stranger Alias: Terabyte Sex: Female Age: 19 DOB: December 6, 1986 Sun Sign: Sagittarius Chinese Sign: Tiger Hair Color: Blonde Eye Color: Blue (Silver when powers are activated) Height: 5ft 7in (67in, 170.2 cm) Weight: 129 pounds (58.5 kg) Affiliation: X-Men Alignment: Good Model: Scarlet Johansson More Pictures Back

Powers:

Technopathy/Computer Link:
Melissa may communicate with, retrieve information from, and enter computer systems. She can also reprogram robots and other computers with her mind. Sentient computer systems are more difficult to control, but with work and time this is possible.

Stunts:
Haywire:
Melissa can make large numbers of electronic objects do crazy things, but can’t control the objects’ actions when doing so. For example, she could make monitors or televisions flicker, change screen color, change channels and such, but has no control over which the televisions or monitors do.

Machine Animation:
Once linked, Melissa can cause a computer-controlled machine to move and perform actions at her behest. If the machine cannot move on its own, she can give it a limited ground movement.

Mechanical Link:
The power may be used on any machine with a motor, regardless of whether it has a computer.

Computer Memory:
Melissa has the ability to run programs in her mind, she also has the ability to write programs and install them in her mind and thusly learns things immediately. By loading a program she can immediately learn another language or skill. These skills or abilities leave her as soon as she uninstalls them. Her computer memory gives her an eidetic memory as well. She can hold up to ten terabytes of information in her head; she also has some mental shielding against psionic or telepathic attacks due to the fact that her mind isn’t set up like a normal person’s mind.

Electronic Telekinesis:
Melissa may move electronic and machinery components with her mind. Her telepathic ability does not reach further than that. She can assemble electronics, machinery, and computers with her mind easily. Her telekinesis has no effect on any other objects or any living beings.

Power Limits or Weaknesses:
When Melissa is animating machines, or is linked to a computer she is oblivious to the outside world. She cannot hear, see, smell, taste, or feel. All of her senses are wrapped up inside the computer or machine she is in. This weakness is not in effect when she is controlling simple machinery, making electronics go haywire, or when she is using her Electronic Telekinesis.

When Melissa activates any of her powers, the irises of her eyes turn silver.
 

Equipment/Wealth:

While building computer networks for businesses in her community, Melissa has accumulated some wealth. She owns a silver 2006 Saturn Vue (Automatic with xm radio, On-star navigation system, sun-roof, and a hands-free phone system), a top of the line, high-end lap top and PC both build by Alienware and tweaked by her, a sidekick phone, and iPod.

History:

Melissa was born to a very normal family in rural southwest Wisconsin in a very small town named Cazenovia. The early part of her life, her parents were farmers, so she lived upon a farm, by the age of five, her parents sold the cattle and moved from outside of Cazenovia, to Cazenovia. The town was and is small, only house about three hundred citizens. Melissa grew accustomed to small-town life, and enjoyed the fact she could walk to school and it was only a few blocks, and that her neighbors were all very trustworthy.

Growing up, she went to the Weston School District, after the third grade, one of the buildings she went to school in was damaged in a tornado (during the summer, so no child was harmed). It made the school district have to build new buildings, and so they centralized their entire district into one place outside of Cazenovia, between the three towns that comprised the school district, Cazenovia, Hillpoint, and Lime Ridge. Melissa needn’t ride the bus still, her mother worked in the school as a secretary, so she simply rode in with her. During school, she participated in extra-curricular activities: Sports didn’t stick: She was sometimes too awkward and clumsy. Music stuck: She sang in the choir and played several instruments in band. Art didn’t stick: She can draw a stick figure! Computers stuck: Big time. She took many programming and network classes that the school offered, she even partook in something called “Youth Options” where you participate in technical college level courses , though to do so she had to drive to Reedsburg, which was a half hour away; but she does have an associate's degree in computer programming and networking.

During high school, she took a job as an entry level network tech at Weston. Her mother was able to procure her the position. She worked very hard both at school and work, which happened to be one in the same. She was a little awkward with boys, only seeing herself as one of the guys, she wasn’t into fashion or cheerleading, she was into video games and computers. She had a lot of male friends, but no real boyfriends. She was interested in lots of languages, and her friends and she decided they might get away with more if they knew American Sign Language. She knows how to sign; she knows how to speak Spanish, French, and some Czech taught to her by her grandparents and great aunts and uncles.

One night, during the summer before her senior year, she was working hard at the school helping to install the new computers they bought. She was working on installing a network plug into the wall of this one room, which was very near to an outlet. By accident, she slipped and the flat-head screwdriver went into the outlet and she was electrocuted (The screwdriver’s handle was broken and metal was exposed). In the process she flailed a bit and was touching a computer. When she woke that computer was utterly fried, but she found she had new abilities. She played with them and worked to control them as much as she could without help, but that only got her so far.

She moved to New York in hopes of finding help for her abilities, and she came to Xavier’s Institution to seek that help and employment. Now she works as a network tech, both having a hand in dealings with things like Cerebro and DR and keeping the student’s networks and computers up to date and active. She lives off campus, however, not far from Xavier’s School for the gifted.

Since coming to Xavier's she's met a few students and a few people. One person, in particular, a young man by the name of Dominic Petros, was able to get around her shy bubble. He was troubled and looked like he needed some guidance. She talked to him, and the two quickly began dating. It's all very new to her, since he is her first boyfriend. She's trying to keep him in line, but he is a troubled man with the itch to stir up trouble.

After a while, Melissa started to realize that she and Dominic weren't right for each other. It was about then that she met a young man by the name of Thomas Chandler. She was to tutor him, but they became close friends, and that became more. While stuck in an elevator with Thomas, she realized her feelings, and they kissed. Thinking he was saving her relationship with Dom, Thomas rejected her. She broke up with Dominic anyway, after he was told about her feelings for Tom by her supposed friend. After a week, Thomas and Melissa met up again, and started a sweet relationship. Dominic confronted them while they were on a date, and he and Thomas fought, leaving Thomas the victor in more than one way.

 

Personality:

Melissa is friendly enough, if not a little introverted. She is a good listener and enjoys music. She will always offer someone a shoulder to cry on should they need it, intent on their problems and offering advice. She is a little awkward with the opposite sex; she is sarcastic and smart-assed most times. She is quick to get her interest perked if a person should talk to her about technology, and she tends to ramble on about her interests, like technology, fantasy, roleplaying, and movies.

Family:

Parents:	Robert and Janell Stranger
Siblings:	Sarah, Tanya, and Lana (All married, much older)
Other:	Several nieces and nephews
Maternal Grandparents:	Leonard and Justine Devero
Paternal Grandparents:	Charles and Wanda Stranger (Deceased)

Trivia about Melissa:

-Has two tattoos:  A blue butterfly on the back of her neck.   Chinese Symbols of Serenity on lower back with "Serenity" in English below it -Knows all the Chinese sayings and meanings from the show "Firefly" and movie "Serenity" -Favorite TV Show: Firefly (owns it on DVD) -Favorite Movie: Serenity -Favorite Color: Blue -Favorite Food: Seafood (not "seefood", is quite picky) -Favorite CD: Soundtrack from the movie Serenity -Languages Known: French, Spanish, some Czech, and American Sign Lanugage -Is saddened when pets in movies are harmed or die. -Loves the ocean but can't swim well -Loves to play tennis, pool, and go bowling, but isn't good at any of those  things -Loves to ride horse -Dislikes onions, peppers, and tomatoes -Likes liver -Likes a wide variety of music, but hates rap -Likes to play with fire and candles -Likes to tinker with things, take them apart and put them back together, and is  quite good at it, especially electronics. -Aerophobic (heights), will have panic attacks if up too high. -Claustrophobic -Astraphobic (thunder & lightning) -Fears fishing hooks -Has certain childhood memories she won't speak of. RP's When Thomas Met Melissa Almost Lost More Than a Friendship A Kiss Confrontation Part II [ Top of Page ]