November QnA - edited with more questions

Sorry! I was alerted to the fact that about half the questions got cut off. This is the whole shebang!

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Disregarding Hood's death, would Ortega have any interest in bringing down Hollow Ground?

I mean... yes? They are running the major criminal enterprise in Los Diablos. However, it's not exactly a flashy fight, is it? If revenge for Hood was not on the table, HG would be quite far down Ortega's list of priorities. Much like city corruption, it's something they think is bad, but also not something they feel is their job to deal with.

What does Pyroclast like to do outside his job? Does he have any particular favourite things to do, like Argent with her movies? Or Herald with his art?

Good question. Ashfall/Pyroclast was always a workaholic, and most of his time off was spent on working out and training. He does have hobbies, but they are much neglected. What he used to do back in the hero days was a bit of house renovating/building. He got interested in it when building his vigilante base (not much money back then) and true to his nature tried to learn as much as he could. These days he has money, and I think he sometimes miss the days when he just couldn't go out and buy things, or have a government paid apartment and headquarters.

Have other telepaths been able to ‘mind dive’ before? Or is this a new development?

This is rare, but not new. Sidestep however, is one of the ones who has used it the most and been most skilled at it.

Argent mentions that the dress she wore to the gala was Versace and Ortega wears/buys Gucci quite a bit, do all the Rangers typically wear designer brands or is it more for formal occasions instead of casual wear (Ortega clearly not counting)?

Like many famous people, the Rangers do get offers of sponsored clothes. Ortega is the one that is the most open with it, and there has probably been others in the past before Gucci. 

These days, Argent is the most sought after, but she has not gone exclusive, and will pick what she likes for her public appearance. She also likes to partner/buy from smaller, local designers that fit her soft pastel aesthetic.

Chen has no clothes sponsor (unless you count Ortega buying stuff for him), and he says that's because the Marshal should remain neutral. Of course the true reason is that he dislikes being treated as a dress-up doll. He does however have a lot of sponsorships for his artificial limbs, and he keeps trying new things out to find what works best.

Daniel will wear sponsored clothes on occasion, especially in official circumstances. He draws the line at his private life, though, and tends to dress down a lot. Of course, what he'd pay for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt is still ridiculously much, and much of it is also tailored to his build. There is a reason why his clothes fit him so well, it's not exactly off the rack.

How old is Lord Ember? What's his birthday and year?

5 May 1988

How old is Regina? What's her birthday and year?

6 April 1971

How old is the Handyman? What's his birthday and year?

23 September 1990

How old is Owl? When's her birthday and year?

11 November 1984

If Sidestep shot HB, how does Ortega know? How did they relate it to the public? Was there any recording of it, or is everything based on the Rangers' account of what happened in that room? What does public opinion exactly knows about that shooting?

Ortega knows because they entered the room in the aftermath of it. The saw what had happened. Probably the only one that really saw the truth. Everything the government knows was based on Charge and especially Steel's testimony.

The public knows nothing. The official version was that terrorists had hijacked the building and was releasing a gas that caused people to go mad and kill themselves. Anathema and Sidestep was killed by the terrorist, and the building had to be bombed to contain the threat. Only Charge and Steel survived, the latter with massive injuries.

Is the crack okay with the current mayor or do they want her gone?

Pending judgment. 

You said that sometimes, events call for Marshals to meet up. Where does the leader of the Guardians fit into this?

The Guardians are connected to Los Diablos, and has nothing to do with the federal Marshal system. 

Are Lord Ember and Lady Argent related by blood?

Nope. 

Has Pyroclast ever killed?

Yes. It doesn't happen often though, he tries to find other ways. However, it is far too easy with that kind of power.

Have Cavalier / Cavalier's attack on the Pentagon and Hunter-Sidestep's ominous "something bad is coming" hints anything in common?

Indeed they do.

Would the federal government ever use regenes as a way of enforcing martial law on a civilian population?

Right now they have too few of them for that to be an effecient measure. It is far easier to recruit cops and soldiers than grow regenes.

Was Blaze ever actually in love with any of his past partners?

The definition of love is always tricky. What is it? How does it feel? I don't think Blaze would say that he was. He's always been resistant to be tied down like that. But there definitely were feelings involved.

Despite being government dogs, would any of the Rangers [any branch] bite the hand that feeds them if the government tried to invade the FEZ once the deal is up? 

I think it is fair to say that some might.

During HB did Step's mask get removed at some point during the mental intrusion for Heartbreak to be able to stick their fingers in our mouth, for us to be able to see ourselves smiling in the window, and for us to put the gun in our mouth? If so, did we remove it or did Heartbreak? Was it found after the building was destroyed?

Or.... was it? 

Building on Anti's question - was Cavalier's attack on the Pentagon an attempt to (1) retrieve something, (2) terminate something, (3) assassinate someone, or (4) send a message to the government? 

Honestly, all four. Mostly 4, followed by 1, 3, 2.

In a battle of wits between Steel and tactician!Step, who do the rest of the Rangers think will win? 👀 

Back in the day: Sidestep would get most votes.

Current day: Steel would get most votes.

Whom are all the current Alpha levels that Sidestep knows/knows of.

With the caveat that I might add more in the future: 

Has heard of: Locus (telepath), Marshal Hood (geokinesis), Cavalier (induced explosions), Skybright (telekinetic), Thunderhead (telepath), Marshal Rivergrass (hydrokinesis), Marshal Trailblazer (speed) 

Has met: Sentinel (wind control), Catastrofiend (regeneration), Anathema (invulnerability), Pyroclast (superheated ash transformation), Void (dimensional manipulation), Heartbreak (psychic)

Is the heartbreak memory we see in rebirth  influenced by memories of sidestep's time in the farm post-capture?

Most likely, yes. Trauma often bleeds together.

Would Mortum be able to add that camouflaging ability Ortega used during the Void raid to the armor? If so, how effective would it be at hiding Step? Is it like full camouflage or more like subtly blending in?

It would be possible to add to the armor, but it might compromise some other defensive properties of the surface treatment. It is basically a form of adaptive camouflage. Think squids. It wasn't really a concern of Sidestep since they have more effective ways of remaining out of sight.

Is there a specific area of the brain where telepathic activity is found?  After boosting could a physiological change be seen in this area?  Would telepathy actively in use show up on an fMRI scan? 

Telepathy is one of the boosts that alters the way the brain works on a holistic level. However, the area vital to making it work is the corpus callosum, and in a lesser way, the temporoparietal junction. I think telepathic activity would show up as it was being used on a fMRI scan. Probably not if it wasn't in use at the time, unless you really knew what to look for. 

Would physiological or activity changes be easily detected if a boost’s power has increased?

If you had a past record to compare to, it would.

What was herald’s vigilante gear like?  Did he wear a mask?

He did wear a mask and an improvised outfit. I think it looked a lot more sleek than most debuting vigilantes though. He had a good eye for design and still some money left from home. Pretty much a sportswear base, with one or two designed key things to make it his.

We know he had a ridiculous helmet as Kinetik, but what about when he was doing courier work as Kestrel? 

The Kestrel outfit (and name) actually came from his vigilante work. The company decided to keep it since it fitted their profile. So the suit just got upgraded to a proper skinsuit, and the mask became a sleek helmet. The color scheme was basic gray and rust, if you look up "kestrel" online, you can see what he was going for. Unfortunately he didn't think when he signed the sponsorship papers, and the courier company now own the Kestrel name and design. Daniel is quite bitter about it. He quite liked that design.

Sidestep comment to how the rangers break room looks impersonal. Is this because they're actively discouraged from decorating it with personal belongings to make it more homely? Or was it a conscious choice on the Rangers part?

Sidestep is comparing to the old HQ, which had years of being lived in by many disparate personalities. This HQ is new, and still has that slightly impersonal feeling to it. It is less being actively discouraged, and more like if something is new and shiny people feel less need to try to spice it up.

Will we ever get to see Chen snap and truly, truly be absolutely furious? Ortega said his blowouts were magnificent and now I’m interested.

Oh yes. You can only bottle things up so long.

How fast is Zephyr? What’s the upper limit to their speed? Would they lose a race to anyone? 

I don't know the exact upper limit, it hasn't been needed. They could definitely race and win against a car. The issue is as always, maneuverability. At those speeds, a single misstep can lead to big crashes, and Zephyr's not invulnerable. In fact, they mostly use it for the reaction speed, and to be able to run on water and the like. They would lose a race against Trailblazer, who is much faster.

How does Teresa feel about being seen as a ‘neutral’ mayor? Does she feel any particular worry about the dangers (like what happened to the previous mayor) associated with the job? 

She is very aware of the dangers, and is pleased to be seen as neutral. You don't get work done by being seen as partisan.

What was the previous mayor like?

Geoff Hansen was a former investment banker who became elected mayor because many of the companies owed him favors, and believed he was the right person to take Los Diablos from glitchy startup to west coast powerhouse. They weren't wrong, but Geoff stepped on some very sore toes in the process.

Sidestep has preferred profanity: do any of the other main cast have particular phrases/a tendency to use certain swears? 

Hmmm. I think that Ortega likes to vary, mixing both English and Spanish. They are by far the greatest user of profanity. Mortum uses "merde" whenever they get briefly annoyed. Argent doesn't swear that often, but when she does it's things like "shit". Chen can swear, and while he tries not to these days, when he does it will most likely stay within the "fuck" range. Herald voted most likely to not swear. He was not raised that way.

Did Ortega ever blame Chen for them not getting to Sidestep fast enough during HB? Do they still feel the same way? Likewise, does Chen resent what Ortega said to him to make him snap out of the telepathic attack, or blame them for the loss of his legs?  

There has been blame shared between them, yes. Mostly Chen took it all on his shoulders. He doesn't blame Ortega anymore. The reverse is... still up for debate. Ortega might still harbor some resentment.

What do Blaze and Zephyr do on their downtime? Any hobbies?

Honestly, still surfing. They started out as part of that daredevil crowd who defied the risks of the ocean and they haven't forgotten that part.

We know Argent, Ortega and Steel can't leave work at work and all have their little side projects in their free time (Argent hangs out with bad-at-fighting vigilantes and looks for the regenerator, Steel dips his toes in governmental conspiracies, and Ortega is generally... a shady asshole with fingers in 88 different shady pies). Along those lines, what does Daniel do? He's been looking into HB; how did he do that, and is he still looking? What forms does his "street" heroism take?

Daniel has been looking into Heartbreak because the shadow of that event still looms over the team. He feels he needs to know to be a good Ranger, and make sure it doesn't happen again. Also, and this he doesn't say out loud, that was when Sidestep died, and that is important to him. He started by going through the systems, and quickly realized that there was an official version and an unofficial version that did not make sense. Even in the version kept from the public, things didn't add up. So he went looking. 

That is how he met Marek and became loosely involved with the "West Coast Mysteries and Murder" crew. Yes, Herald has been part of the funding for that show (in secret, Ortega has no idea), and has gotten them out of trouble on more than one occasion. He gives tips on occasion, when he has encountered something weird that doesn't quite add up.

Other than that, he still occasionally stops street crimes if he happens to come across them. He doesn't like involving the LDPD if he can avoid it, and sometimes people just need a second chance. He actually has quite a positive reputation among henchmen and lower level villains.

1) How deep do the regene tattoos go? Does it reach the subcutaneous tissue?

Yes it does, every layer of skin is penetrated.

2) Does the process of tattoo creation involve injecting something into the skin?

No.

3) If (2) is a yes - does it involve injecting mRNA, or

4) some kind of dye? 

No injections.

Does the main cast have any particular comfort foods?

The comfort foods they don't really want people to know about: Ortega likes that stupidly strong beef jerky. They are not a fan of their breath afterwards though. Argent likes raw beef. She has on occasion eaten an entire tray of fresh, ground beef with just pepper and salt. Chen is the type to empty a tub of icecream (particularly cookie dough or peanut) and then pay for it afterwards because his stomach on occasion dislikes dairy. Still worth it. Daniel would live on pancakes and waffles if he could. Especially fresh from the stove. On occasion he cooks them and eats them right there by the counter while the next one is cooking. Preferably banana and maple syrup or berries and cream.

Are there any animals you associate with the Rangers and Mortum (or any of the characters)? If yes, what are they and why?

I was about to say I leave that to the readers, but then I realized that I did have answers. Silly answers.

Ortega: Red Fox.

Argent: Cat.

Chen: Bear.

Daniel: Capybara.

Mortum: Crow.

Here’s a self indulgent one: a fight between the Void and the Catastrofiend, one on one, who wins.

I would say the Void, but only like 60% of the time. The Catastrofiend got a few cards up it's sleeve.

Would you classify the Void's armor as Mysterious, Imposing, or Terrifying? Any other info you could give on how it looks?

I would say the intention of it is to be Terrifying, but it is more verging on Mysterious. It is the Void that makes it terrifying.

The sense of unease the void base and the heartbreak site give off - can they only be sensed by psi-sensitives, or is it a general vibe that non psi-sensitives can pick up too?

Psi-sensetive is a spectrum. Many people have a faint talent for feeling what's off there, even if they wouldn't see themselves that way.

Has Step always been able to read animal minds, or is it a skill that arose as their telepathy grew stronger?

It arose after the nanosurge, though they felt some vibes before that too,

Physical age wise, what's the currently oldest living Regene?

I am not sure. They would look around 50, but that is not the actual years since decanting.

If Spoon got boosted, what powers would he have? How would Chen handle it? 

Oh Spoon would 100% be a teleporter, and Chen could not handle it.

How do registered heroes get tested for telepathic resistance? What sort of training regiments are in place to help develop said resistance?

This is mostly a case for the Rangers, and certain other heroes who work with sensitive issues. In general, the training would be with a registered telepath, and they would learn various techniques for recognizing when they are influenced, and distracting mind readers with other thoughts, as well as shielding themselves. There used to be several licensed mid-level telepaths working wither for companies, or with them as a independent contractor. However, during the last few years, they have gone out of business.

Boost registration is a thing on the east coast, is that something they’d intend to impose once (if) the FEZ is reabsorbed into the US when resolution 32 is up?

That would 100% be on the agenda.

Does the Rat King have any opinions on bats?

They have not had many close interactions with them.

how old was Anathema when they were first boosted?

Twelve.

Do we know what the Green Sky's views on children were? Were members with established families encouraged to 'introduce' their children into the group?

Oh the Green Sky loves children. They are a very important part of the cult, and children were encouraged to participate and be introduced at an early age. They also worked with various orphanages, who where secretly supported by the cult.

Will we ever get to punch ppl for Ortega? They punched so many ppl for Sidestep, it's only fair we do the same for them.

Oh yes. I agree that would be fair.

At the time of the raid on the green sky compound, how many active members were in the cult?

I think there were about thirty members at the compound, but the cult numbered in the hundreds. Most were still out in society, and only spent weekends or longer periods at the compound. The raid was picked to be at a time between major meetings, to avoid too much civilian interactions.

What was Themmy promised when they joined the cult?

A place to call home.

What’s Cavalier’s sexuality?

Bi/pan but with a preference for the ladies due to general social pressure.

What about Pyroclast’s?

Workaholic. Somewhere in the spectrum between demi and ace, very faintly biromantic.

Does Mortum have any competition in regards to their line of business? 👀 Was there a possible rival Sidestep could’ve gone to for their suit?

Of course Mortum has competition. This is a lucrative market. However, Mortum was the one in Los Diablos where Sidestep found no ties to either the military, or companies wanting to test black market stuff.

Does sidestep remember what anathema’s thoughts felt like?

Yes.

Sidestep turned against everyone in their past life to fight the farm. Has Ortega ever taken similar extreme actions in their pursuit of taking down HG? How far is Tega willing to go for this?

Ortega has cut a lot of ties to people. Not to the Sidestep extreme yet, but they have lost friendships over their obsession. How far Ortega is willing to go depends on what else they have going in their life. If there is not much else, all the way, baby.

How would Nazar react upon learning about Ember's grudge against him and the reasons behind it?

Faintly amused. It would bolster his confidence a lot.

What year did Blaze and Zephyr debut as heroes?

Around 2011 or so. They stepped up after the nanosurge, which impacted them and their friends heavily.

Are there any boosts/mods not allowed on airplanes or other types of transportation?

Boosts and mods must have a special license to travel by plane. This was implemented when air traffic finally started to be possible in the west coast, and is stringently applied in order to keep the few lines open to the rest of the world. Much like bringing a weapon aboard, it is forbidden in most circumstances.

Mods are easy to catch on security scans and metal detectors. But mods with smaller work done has an easy time getting a permit, especially if it is defensive. Chen has a permit, which details the modwork done, and the licensing agency. Ortega has one too, but with a lot more classified marked on it. 

It is harder to identify boosts, but anybody with visible weirdness would have a hard time. Argent does not have a permit and would not go on a plane. Herald does.

The same rules goes for trains and buses in the east. Not on the west coast, because of liberty. Of course individual companies can ban and enforce stuff like that.

After their death, did Ortega ever watch old interviews just so they could hear Step's voice?

Yes. And would get drunk, depressed cry a little.

With Marek and/or his investigation show - do you have plans to have them mentioned/appear in the game per se, or will they stay exclusive to background lore? 

They are planned for book three, at least in a minor role.

Has Ortega ever openly talked to anyone about them being in love with Sidestep? Or is it more like an unsaid but obvious thing everyone close to them knows?

I think book two is the first time those words might be mentioned out loud. It was always a mostly unsaid thing that people picked up on.

What would Mr. Ortega (Snr)’s mindscape have felt like to Sidestep? 

A house with lots of closed doors. Some locked. Slightly cold. Feeling watched.

And what about tia Elena’s? Did Sidestep actually try to see it themselves? What was the result?

A busy market, like one of those festivals when you are a small child. Everybody's faceless but happy, but the feeling of lots of weird things hiding in the shadows. Sidestep has not tried to get a feel for it so far.

Any chance we’ll cross paths with farm employees (big or small) before Book 4?

Perhaps book three. I am unsure where it will end.

Do any members of the green sky cult have day jobs? Normal 9-5 shifts?

Oh yes. Most of them.

How would Bo/Rosie and the Crew react if Step asked them for relationship advice? How good of advice would they give? 

Bo: "Oh don't ask me, I'm terrible at that. I'm divorced, you know that, right? But if you want any advice I guess I would say don't work too much."

Rosie: "Look, everybody asks me that because a girl like me should know, right? Nope. I don't. You should probably ask Joe, he's good at that stuff. You know, barkeep stuff."

Pelayo: "Don't date a Ranger, that's a good start. Seriously, what were you thinking? Love will conquer all? No. It won't. I would say break up, but honestly, at this point having your ex be a ranger is even worse. I need a raise." alternatively "Mortum? Wow, they are out of your league. Keep doing what you have been doing, it's obviously working, but I have no idea why."

Ward: "Keep at it. Sure they might say they hate you now, but just keep getting in touch and eventually they will cave. Or not. But are you planning to give up?"

Nehal: "You need to figure out what they like and give the biggest present you can afford. I'll help you steal it. Oh, and apologize. Even if you don't think you've done anything wrong. It always worked for my brother, and he's married now."

ZaZa: "Really? Me? You're desperate enough that you're asking me for advice? You're doomed."

Did Mortum go straight from academia into villainy or did they spend any time doing private sector/corporate research?

They did their years in the private sector. That was where the money was, and also where they were backstabbed.

How would the Marshall of LD react if the new kingpin (after HG is gone) wanted to work with them by giving info on criminals/villains or help when there were big threats in exchange for letting them run the city's criminal world in peace? Could an alliance of sorts be formed or would something like that be completely off the tables?

Chen is nothing if not pragmatic. A deal could most likely be negotiated.

Do farm employees come from a specific social environment? Like, are they all single people with no friends or family attached, in case of needing to dissappear them without too many questions asked?

I mean, that helps. And that would be the kind of people that would agree to lonely postings in the middle of nowhere and going home during the weekends. You get the kind of people whose work is their life, or they will eventually lose the connections to their former life because it's hard to keep them up.

Do villains worry that high infamy hunters will start hunting them next?

I think some at least considers the possibility.

Aside from how intensely Sidestep would fight, were there any other behaviours/thoughts Sidestep exhibited back in the day that had any of the Rangers and/or other vigilantes they hung out with go 'hmm... Something weird is going on there...'?

I will leave that to headcanon, but I think it was fair to say that Sidestep was considered an oddball by many at the start.

Sidestep doesn't need to see or to look at people in the eyes to mindmeld with them, and Heartbreak's influence didn't seem to be limited to their eye-range. So why does Heartbreak's strongest hold on Sidestep seem to hinge on crossing their gaze?

There is a 'look' variable in Rebirth, and it is tied to other things as well. But what it means is so far unrevealed.

Has Sidestep ever, knowingly or unknowingly, possessed another telepath?

No.

was sidestep’s mind always “sticky” or it became one?

Hmmm. I think part of it was always that way.

Is there a renewable void blood source at the farm? Considering Geni-Tech does a lotta cloning around and all...

If that was the case, there would be worse people hunting for them.

The HB victims that tw gore clawed out their eyes... Could they have seen the same thing that terrifies the Rat King when you lose consciousness during your panic attack at the auction?

A similar thing. Not the same.

In Ljungstrand’s final notes (1998) in the lore post, he talks about dimensions, folding and “seeing is believing”.  Was he aware of the Void and their theorised powerset?  Has he ever come into contact with the Void?

This was in part inspired by the Void, yes. No personal contact, but a lot of research.

Could the hole on the heartbreak site (that’s been covered up with a roadworks-style metal plate) have been caused by strong acid damage?

That is possible, yes.

Building on that: is the hole as deep as it was in Heartbreak, or has it grown deeper?

It is approximately the same depth.

Did the rat king know the laser dolphins? If yes, did they get along?

They were aware of them, yes. Probably interacted on several occasions. A bit weird and irritable, and with a nasty sense of humor. Probably glad to be with Psychopathor at that point.4

What are the benefits of getting donor organs from a boosted individual?

It depends. Most of the time it's psychosomatic, but on occasion the powers can bleed through, and in rare cases, manifest fully.

What's Sentinel like as a dad

Busy. Affectionate. Lots of hands on, bring the kids along to stuff. Kinda silly at times. Likes making voices and reading stories.

Who boosted and/or modded the laser dolphins?

It was part of Tina's research once upon a time.

Does Ortega really not recall what Vernon said to them, or are they just pretending they don't?

They are pretending, 100%.

Is the entity causing the bad vibes in the Tesseract, the same entity causing the bad vibes in the heartbreak site?

Nope. Though the means are similar.

Will we get the chance to talk about Anathema (and the grief) to Steel and/or Ortega?

Yeah, once people start talking...

Is the "bio boot drive", or a different part of the core, where the infection first began in the core?

The bio boot drive is the culprit.

A bit of a nerdy question but - will Vitamin D supplements help Ortega? And if not, could they at least confer some from of protection to boosts with high neural loads, hence delaying the rate at which degeneration or strain sets in?

Ortega has a big regiment of supplements, vitamin D is one of them.

Can dampeners protect against the "other" root/branch tag in the telepathic classification system?

It depends. Not against all of them. Especially the ones who needs to skin to skin contact.

Did Themmy know the Catastrofiend before they became the Catastrofiend?

No. But they had met.

Has Dr Mortum ever heard of, or perhaps come into contact with/worked with Dr Anna Jansen (the other telepathic specialist who corresponded with Ljungstrand)?

Religiously read research.

Where is Dr Jansen working now?  Did she accept the job with GeniTech?

Nope, she has since moved east, and is working in the private sector.

Did she continue to correspond with Ljungstrand after the final intercepted communication?

No, she cut those dies. Too dangerous to her career.

Has Dr Mortum ever been scouted for by the farm? If so - what came out of it? If not - why were they deemed not ideal?

No. Too much controversy and arguments in their academic past. Not a good fit. Deemed a possible security risk.

The farm seems to pay special attention to scientists who have earned their doctorates. From this group - does the farm aim to recruit specialists who will benefit the farm? Or, do they focus on those with certain personality traits instead, recruiting them even if they do not possess particularly specialized or coveted skills?

Skills AND personality. There are people they have wanted to recruit that didn't pass the security assessment.

How much money does the storefront base actually make as a business. It seems to get some customers. Is it enough to pay Marcia and "Step the employee" or does most of the costs for keeping it looking legitimate come from Steps own villain funds?

Much of it comes from villain funds.

Could the Regenerator be used to instantly heal wounds?

Yes.

Who joined the void cult first, vitruvian or themmy?

Anathema.

What's the current diameter and circumference of the hb sinkhole? Has this changed since it first appeared?

I think around 3 m or so. It has not changed.

What is its current depth?

A bit over 100m or so.

Has the farm ever implanted chips into the brains of non-lab grown individuals? Human or otherwise.

There has been attempts. Not very successful.

What would Blaze and Zephyr have done if the Guardians didn’t exist/weren’t offered to join?

Probably start/join another team.

On that note, what would Locus and Porphyry have done if they were offered to join instead of them?

Locus would have said no, probably. And Porphyry would have gone with her.

What colours do Re-Gene tattoos come in? Is it just orange? If not, what colours can be found?

All colors of the rainbow and some more. Mostly bright and strong, so they stand out.

Is Dr. Finch married or does she have any family?

She is divorced, with two daughters. She lives with her elderly mum, who doubles as a babysitter.

Since void blood has properties that can  pass through the blood brain barrier - are these 'properties' also indicated in psychedelic drugs?

Relatives, yes.

Adding on: what is the effect of void blood on the neurons in the brain and/or nervous system?

I am not deep enough into the pseudoscience to be able to detail that without major spoilers.

You've mentioned that Sidestep's telepathic code changed from T123567 (Post Nanosurge, Pre Heartbreak) to T12345678 (Current Sidestep).

When did Sidestep gain root 4 and branch 8? Was either/both gained

(1) during or immediately after Heartbreak, or

(2) during their farm capture?

A combination.

Can Ashfall reincorporate inside someone else’s body?

Yes. But it's not nice.

Does ortega's static brain help protect them against void powers?

Partly, not wholly. Just against some bits.

Are the sides of the heartbreak hole also smooth sandstone?

No, it's odd. More like melted glass.

Void lore question: did Ashfall hear sidestep scream as well?

Yes.

Is the core also used to create Re-Gene tattoos?

Nope.

How did the void find out that their blood could temporarily transfer some of their power to the recipient?

Because it made spiritual sense, they tried.

So uh how did Arsenaux take potentially not getting Mortum’s gun from the auction?

Not pleased.

How can the Void tell if somebody is already a boost? They knew Step was and their telepathy wasn't known by many nor public knowledge

Because of their vibes. With their senses, it's immediately obvious and unmistakable.

Do Re-Genes have diseases specific to them?

No, just the normal ones. They do have an increased cancer rate though.

Did void set up their cult before or after getting boosted?

After.

Absolutely necessary, vital, needed question… how does one actually pronounce Arsenaux? is it with a little bit of french or is the X pronounced

It is pronounced like the french. But it's not a real word, just a pun on arson.

What's the relationship between The Farm/the SD and the Green Sky like ? Were there ever any interactions between the two or are they keeping away from each other ? We know Regina isn't fan of the cult, but what do each "organization" as a whole think of the other ?

Faintly hostile.

What did Arsenaux do before joining the green sky?  Was she already a boost?

Yes, she was.

What was Arsenaux and the Void's relationship like

Strained. They occasionally disagreed on things, but Arsenaux was loyal to the cause, not the person.

Can we get a hug from Hollow Ground?

Yes.

Could Ashfall be defeated by a vacuum? Or a leaf blower?

No. At this point, even Sentinel would struggle.

How does Ortega know how much power they've used/have left? Is there an indicator? In their vision, located somewhere on them, connected directly to their senses? A completely different way they know?

They can feel it. There was an indicator in the old one, on their arm, but the new generator is hooked up so closely to their nervous system that they know it intimately.

is the color changing suit standard for ortega or was it made special for the void assault?

It was an adapted military issue suit, used for infiltration  and wilderness missions.

Is Miss Arsenaux taking cultist applications?

Always.

When is Blaze’s birthday? 👀

12 January 1988

When was Mia and Blaze born? I need to know how old they are too

Mia is a 26 July 2000 baby.

When a boost is arrested or apprehended are there any precautions that can be taken for those who have more dangerous, offensive, destructive powers? They have dampeners for telepaths, but what others are there?

The LDPD has measures to deal with many things, but in general a lot of them depends on making the boost in question unconscious or in other ways incapacitated. There are no general power dampening fields.

How long had Ortega and Ashfall been planning their Combo? Do they have any other team up combos?

For a while. It was actually Chen's idea after watching a volcano documentary while bored. They do have other combos I think, Ashfall is all about that.

Including Sentinel into the combo: what’s the maximum radius they could spread that effect while Charge is able to maintain Ashfall/Pyroclast staying connected?

Depends. At the time of the Void compound it would be about ten meters. At this point, much more.

And could it keep up with Charge at, well, full charge—speed and agility and all?

Yes, using static electricity to cling.

What are the rangers opinions of the guardians?

Ortega: A bit more of an annoyance than a classic corporate team due to the city backup. They have not worked together in a major way yet. Ortega is convinced they are meant to replace the Rangers.

Argent: Kind of a fangirl though she would never admit it. She was aware of both Zephyr and Blaze from the days before she became a hero, and admired them.

Chen: Very aware that it is a rival team, but respects their work. On good terms with Blaze.

Herald: They are heroes, right?

If someone was guilty of hiding and aiding a Re-Gene from getting recaptured by the Farm, do they face any punishment for it?

Theft of government property, and breaking a ton of top-secret laws.

Do escaped Re-Genes have bounties on their heads? Does whoever turn them in get a reward?

That would be admitting it had ever happened. Which the Farm doesn't.

What was the weirdest thing sidestep did in their vigilante days that made Chen/the rangers go "wtf??"

I leave that one up to headcanons.

We begin causing uhhhh big problems, will the SF Rangers be assigned to team up with LD Rangers to handle us?

Not in book 3.

If you put a blindfold on lady argent, does it obscure her vision completely?

No.

How is argent's color vision? More or less range than average human eyes? Can she see in shrimp colors? Can she see infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths average human eyes can't pick up?

Mantis shrimp, infrared and ultraviolet.

Will Mortum let us add/remove a cape later to our armor?

Maybe. Not sure.

Will we ever have the chance to kill Lord Ember?

Don't know yet.

Are Regenes expected/allowed to reply verbally to their Handlers or are they meant to remain silent at all times? Are they supposed to speak at all given they aren't allowed to talk to other Regenes?

They use verbal communication with their handlers, but see that as their work language and avoids using it between themselves. In general they are supposed to be silent until spoken to.

Is the area covered by the tattoos still 100% comprised of the same human skin cell genetic makeup, like the rest of the non-tattooed skin?

With a bit of extra in there.

How does the Farm handle Regene relationships if they're noticed?

It depends. If they work together well in a group and doesn't cause issues, they tend to keep them together. The most important unit is the team. If it causes problems, or dereliction of duty they are separated.

You mentioned Regenes don't distinguish if a relationship involves sex or not, but how does the Farm react/handle it if Regenes are caught sleeping together? Does this happen often?

It happens now and then, they still have a sex-drive, especially when young. In general the Farm tries to ignore it, nobody can get pregnant. And I bet some staff finds it... interesting. For science. There are some genuinely creepy and bad people working there.

How does child support and stuff like that work in the FEZ? Is Bo required by court to pay child support or is it an agreement between him and his ex wife?

It depends. While there are no federal oversight, an insurance agreement is often signed with the marriage license to determine what happens when a couple split up. Especially if there are children planned or involved. Some companies have similar clauses as part of their insurance package. So it is an agreement between Bo and his wife.

Does Chen ever have to worry about where he sits in public places?

Just in fancy places.

Does Mia have any particular opinions on the Guardians?

Not yet. But she will.

Is what sidestep remembers about heartbreak now different from the memories they encoded during their actual experience of heartbreak?

Yes.

What was the name Themmy went by when they were part of the void cult?

Paragon.

Would Ortega prefer we gift them HG (alive), or they hunt HG themselves? 👀

Depends on how nice the package is.

When Daniel was shot by Deadeye back when he was still a corporate hero, was he aware of who she was or who she allegedly worked for?

Nope.

Is he aware of her and her alleged affiliations now?

Yes, he researched.

Might we ever get a chance to kick her ass for it?

Why not? Sounds pleasant.

…is Blaze a cuddler?

I think so. He likes the warmth.

What do the Fallen Hero sinister corporations specialize in and what are their names?

I recall PharmaCore and GeniTech but there were others I can't remember.

Oh boy, I honestly don't remember. The others haven't played into it yet, thus they are just names.

Do the effects of the Void’s powers differ on Ashfall depending on whether he’s in his human form or sprinkle form? If yes: how do they differ, exactly?

Yes they do, and you will know in the Ashfall segment of the Void story.

What are the components in void blood that make it different from normal boosted human blood?

It's not about what the components are...

A few questions for Heartbreak:

- Where is heartbreak's physical body now?

- Where is their mind?

- Do any of the named cast know Heartbreak before they became Heartbreak - and if so, how many knew them?

Oh this is sweet. Did you REALLY think I would answer this? When you don't even know the truth about the whole incident?

Does Pokemon exist in the FHR world?

The game does, yeah.

There are plasma weapons, energy casters, lasers, fusion batteries, nanites, superpower drugs, mecha, cyborg, man-machine interfaces, advanced medicine, telepathic studies, gene-modification, quantum-tech, teleportation and  probability prediction/future sight.

Any hint of other technologies/powers/science disciplines do you think might be revealed in the future ?

Anything that would make for a cool story or gets stuck in my head as a hyperfixation. Nothing planned I am willing to spoil.

Is Mitchell a boost, mod, neither or both?

Neither.

Is the Rat King a bunch of brains in a jar or do they have their little bodies and could theoretically be removed from their container?

Just the brains, no bodies. They were implanted so young they only have the barest memory of a body.

Is The Crack's true identity someone Sidestep has (or has the potential to have) met before?

Yes.

What happened to the suit Psychopathor was wearing when he first fought Ortega and Step? Did he have to make a new one or did he steal it back?

He had to make a new one. But it was no big chore, he's constantly upgrading.

When a villain with a suit is arrested what happens to it? I assume they don't get it back.

Goes either in the vault or to research.