• Mind Control: Remarkable
• Mind Probe: Amazing
• Induce Sleep: Incredible
• Detect Psionics: Excellent
• Memory Alteration/Erase Psionic impressions: Amazing

Talents

Astro-navigation, Pilot, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computers, Genetics, Mathematics, Medicine, Psychology, Dancing, Sharp Weapons, Fencing, Guns, Martial Arts B, Performer:Violin, Multi-Lingual:(English, French, German, Russian, Spainish, Takisian)

Contacts

Most of Earths well known Aces and Jokers, The Jokertown clinic, The United States Government, Senator Hartman

History

Tachyon, a nobleman from the planet Takis, came to Earth in 1946 in a failed attempt to prevent his family from releasing the wild card virus. The interstellar drive of his sentient vessel, "Baby", burned out, effectively trapping him on Earth. He spent 1946 to 1950 treating virus victims at various New York hospitals, and trying to recover his ship, which had been im- pounded by the U.S. government. In 1950 he and the Four Aces were brought before HUAC. His lover, Blythe van Rensmeler, was driven mad by the experience and by an ill-timed raind-control attempt by Tachyon. She was institutionalized and he was deported as an illegal alien.

The destruction of van Renssaeler made Tachyon very wary about using his mind powers on humans.

This public degradation (one of the worst things that can happen to a Takisian), together with exhaustion and guilt over the release of the virus, broke his spirit. He became an alcoholic bum wandering from country to country throughout Europe. He was recruited by the KGB during the late 1950s (codenamed Dancer), but was never able to give them any substantive information due to his rather forlorn personal condition.

Permitted to return to the United States after the 1960 election of John F. Kennedy as President, Tachyon immediately staked out a private piece of gutter in Jokertown. The Turtle found him in 1963 and helped him back onto his feet. He founded the Blythe van Rennsaeler Memorial Clinic (popularly known as the Jokertown Clinic) in 1966, mainly to treat virus victims but also to provide general medical care to the citizens of Jokertown. He also recovered "Baby". He keeps her stored in a warehouse, using her only in dire emergencies, such as the attack on the Swarm Mother in the summer of 1986. He is devoted to Baby, and will risk his life to protect her.

On his return to Europe during the WHO-sponsored world tour, Tachyon discovered that he had fathered a child, Gisele Bacourt, during his lost years in Europe some 30 years before. Bacourt was dead, but her son, Tachyon's grandchild, Blaise Jeann'ot Andrieux, was being used by a group of French terrorists because of his powerful but untrained mental powers. Tachyon brought the boy back to America and became his legal guardian. In mid-1987 Tachyon hinmlf contracted the wild card virus, but thus far it reimins latent. Tachyon now does his best to avoid stressful situations which might activate the virus.

Tachyon has three mjor vices: women, booze and a great need to feel guilty. His drinking currently never reaches the level it attained during his lost years, but he continues to resort to the bottle when feeling depressed, guilty or overwhelmed by work and sense of duty. He is direct and persistent in his lechery, but by and large he is successftd with women, perhaps because he is so courtly, charming and protective.

Tachyon is an aristocrat from a powerful, highly advanced culture. He can be serious and elegant when the situation calls for it, but there is a great deal of ebullience to his character. He is small even for a Takisian (and they are not a tall race), but he is strong, agile, well-trained with weapons, and feels not in the least self-conscious about his height; he is a prince, after all, and carries himself as though he were the tallest person in the room.

Tachyon is something of an anomaly among his people in that he is a genuinely nice person, but his Takisian upbringing has still affected his beliefs and actions to a great degree. He is acutely uncomfortable when around physical defomiity or mental retardation. On his world such "genetic failures" are not permitted to survive. This makes his work among the genetic wrecks of Jokertown much more difficult, but also increases his sense of penance and helps assuage his guilt.
by bob malooga