Theodore "Doc" Parsons

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The Life and Times of Doc Parsons

Theodore “Doc” Parsons graduated from the school of hard knocks. He was born in 2010 to unknown parents (no record has been found of their identity) and spent his early childhood in foster homes. His test scores showed high ability in mathematics and language. Most thought this predisposed him to a career in computers, especially when he showed some interest in hacking alarm systems to facilitate his escapes. The boy ran away from several family homes before being placed in a corporate home in 2021.

The mandatory education of the corporate home allowed the boy to develop his intellect at an astonishing rate. He ran away three years later and began living on the city streets. Because he was always reading books about science, he got the nickname Doc from the other street kids. His attention to science and engineering paid off when the kids ran into rival gangs or other aggressors. Doc’s quick wit and innovative mind devised various escapes, cons, traps, hiding places, and other benefits for the entire group. He developed a number of criminal skills before being arrested in 2026 for petty larceny (stealing electronics for a personal project) and possession of an illegal firearm: a hand-sized laser, disguised as a cigarette lighter, with a beam intense enough to burn through quarter-inch steel.

Recognizing the young man’s innate talents, officers of the Halon Corporation intervened on his behalf. They convinced the judge to release the boy into their custody, and guaranteed he would receive a proper education and psychological counseling. They arranged for Doc to attend Cal Tech, where he performed well and advanced rapidly.

In 2029 Doc graduated with his BS in Electronic Engineering and began a ten year contract with Halon. While employed at Halon he work in their laser technology division, where he developed a number of relatively minor advances before devising a method of boosting laser output by a factor of twenty.

Doc is small and wiry, with dark circles under his eyes from many sleepless all-nighters. He is usually dressed very casually, with jeans and a t-shirt or Hawaiian shirt. He owns several pair of Vans, which are his favorite shoes. He often wears a straw fedora and sunglasses.

Timeline

2010	Born
2026	Enters Cal Tech at age 16
2029	Graduates BS Engineering at age 19
2029	Begins 10-year employment contract with Halon
2032	Creates laser booster for Halon weapons division
2039	Opts not to renew Halon contract
2039	Applies for Azimuth Grant to research gravitation effect of high-energy lasers

Skills and Advantages

Gadgeteer. Doc is a natural inventor. He can modify existing equipment and – given sufficient time and resources – invent entirely new gadgets. Doc can throw together wondrous gadgets in minutes or hours, and can get by with scrounged-together spare parts that cost a few percent of what a “realistic” inventor would have to spend.

Triad 1: Armoury (Small Arms), Beam Weapons (Pistol), Engineering (Small Arms)

Triad 2: Electronic Operation (Security), Electronics Repair (Security), Engineering (Electronics)

Other: Computer Operation, Computer Programming, Expert Skill (Laser Technology), Machinist, Physics

Hobbies

Bicycling

Climbing

Hidden Lore (Conspiracies)

Laser Holography

Knife Throwing