Phantom Rush
"Some people wait for help. Some people run. Me? I move first, ask questions later."
Status: Active Vigilante, Wanted.
Current Activity: Pursuing leads connected to The Crucible; known to have disrupted multiple trafficking operations in Auckland.
Alias: Phantom Rush
Other Aliases: The Ghost in the City, The Blur in the Dark, Rush (Underground Fighting Circuit)
Real Name: Quinn Wakahoe
Age: 21
Home: Auckland, New Zealand
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand
Gender: Female
Height: 5’7” (170 cm)
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Build: Lean, wiry, built for speed and agility
Hair: Dark brown with streaks of electric blue
Hair Style: Short, slightly tousled, practical cut for movement
Eyes: Deep hazel with faint silver flecks that subtly glow when she uses her powers
Ancestry: Māori/European descent
Skin: Light tan with scattered freckles
Occupation: Vigilante, Former AIHS Student
Background
Quinn Wakahoe never set out to be a vigilante. She wanted to be a hero, the kind that made a real difference, not just a symbol for the cameras. Growing up in Wellington’s rougher districts, she saw firsthand how crime, corruption, and corporate interests shaped the city far more than the so-called "heroes" on the news.
Her father, a retired hero known as Crosswind, was once an idealist, believing the system could be changed from within. But after a crippling injury, he was discarded by the very agencies he fought for. It left him bitter but still hopeful, convinced that Quinn could succeed where he had failed. Her mother, a private investigator, was more realistic—she knew how the world really worked, and she made sure Quinn understood it too. She taught her how to read people, how to spot lies, and how to disappear when needed.
Quinn never questioned the path in front of her. She trained relentlessly, developing her speed, agility, and combat skills from an early age. When she was accepted into the Hero Development and Certification Program (HDCP) at AIHS, it felt like the natural next step. She excelled in the Subtlety and Control majors, proving herself in stealth, evasive combat, and tactical planning. She wasn’t the strongest, but she didn’t need to be—she was always the fastest, the smartest, the hardest to pin down.
But as the years passed, the cracks in the system became impossible to ignore.
She watched as politics dictated hero work, as powerful figures were protected while vulnerable people were left behind. Every time she asked why, she was told the same thing:
"Not our jurisdiction."
"Not our priority."
"That’s not how the system works."
The final straw came during a training mission gone wrong. A trafficking ring was exposed, but before Quinn and her squad could intervene, orders came down to stand down—too much political risk, too much red tape. She ignored the order. She moved anyway. By the time the real authorities arrived, she had already gotten the victims out—but instead of praise, she was reprimanded.
She realized then: she wasn’t a hero. She was a liability.
So she walked. Left AIHS. Left the sponsors, the ranking system, the titles.
No farewell speech, no grand exit—just a ghost slipping through the cracks.
She took everything she had learned and turned it against the very institutions that tried to control her. Operating under the alias Phantom Rush, she became a shadow in the city, striking where heroes wouldn’t, fighting for the people the system ignored.
Some call her reckless. Some call her a criminal. Some say she’ll burn out or get herself killed before she makes a real difference.
Maybe they’re right.
But she doesn’t stop.
Because someone has to move.
And she was never meant to stand still.
In her pursuit of The Crucible’s operations, Quinn has crossed lines she never thought she would. She’s faced enhanced enforcers, manipulated by middlemen, and been hunted by the very agency that trained her. But she’s also saved lives—ones the system would’ve ignored. Each mission costs her more, but she keeps moving. Because the only thing worse than being alone… is doing nothing.
Powers, Skills, Abilities, Combat Style & Weaknesses
Powers:
Phantom Step (Short-Burst Intangibility & Speed Boost)
Quinn can phase through solid objects and attacks for 1-2 seconds, allowing her to bypass obstacles, reposition instantly, or dodge incoming strikes. When using Phantom Step in conjunction with high-speed movement, she can burst forward at extreme velocity, making her appear as if she’s teleporting.
- Max Burst Speed: 90-100 km/h (55-62 mph) (when Phantom Step is combined with full sprint momentum)
- Max Distance Per Step: 15-20 meters (50-65 feet) (in high-speed combat or chase sequences)
- Momentum Transfer: If she enters Phantom Step mid-sprint, she exits at the same speed
However, if used purely for phasing and stealth, without speed, Phantom Step becomes far less physically taxing, allowing her to use it repeatedly without stamina drain.
- Stealth Phase Usage: Quinn can phase through walls, crates, or objects while remaining slow and silent.
- This negates her limitation on rapid succession use, as she is not straining her body with speed.
- Can be used to evade detection by slipping through cover instead of running.
Limitations:
- Cannot phase through dense materials (reinforced steel, lead, certain energy barriers, etc.).
- When used at high-speed, Phantom Step can only be used up to 3 times consecutively before causing stamina drain.
- Phasing too early or too late can leave her exposed mid-transition.
- Stealth phasing does not enhance speed—it only allows her to pass through objects undetected.
Hyper-Kinetics (Enhanced Reflexes & Reaction Speed)
Quinn processes movement faster than normal humans, allowing her to react before attacks land and anticipate threats before they fully unfold. Her reaction time is around 0.05 - 0.07 seconds, letting her move faster than most opponents can register.
- Can dodge close-range gunfire if she anticipates the shot.
- Can counter opponents before they complete their attacks.
- Moves too fast for untrained enemies to track in combat.
Limitations:
- Not true superspeed—she can’t outrun vehicles or chase down speedsters.
- Excessive rapid movement causes muscle fatigue—long fights force her to slow down.
- Still has a human body—a well-placed hit will put her down.
Spatial Awareness (Combat Perception)
Quinn processes movement, angles, and potential threats in real time, allowing her to:
- Predict enemy movements mid-fight.
- Read body language and intent faster than most.
- Track multiple threats at once, even in chaotic environments.
Limitations:
- Only works within her perception—if she can’t see or hear it, she can’t react to it.
- Prolonged use causes mental strain—constantly analyzing combat wears her down.
Skills & Combat Style:
- Elite Close-Quarters Combatant: Quinn blends martial arts, parkour, and tactical striking, using speed over power.
- Stealth & Infiltration: Silent movement, misdirection, and urban camouflage make her a ghost in the field.
- Espionage & Hacking: She can tap into security systems, manipulate information, and track targets with a small custom hacking device.
- Psychological Warfare: Uses mind games, intimidation, and deception to make enemies second-guess their choices.
- Escape Artist: If the fight isn’t going her way, she’s gone before her enemies even realize it.
Weaknesses:
- No Super Durability: A single good hit can take her out—her strength is in not getting hit in the first place.
- Power Fatigue: Phantom Step drains stamina, forcing her to be selective in using it.
- Loneliness & Isolation: Quinn refuses to rely on others, making her more vulnerable than she realizes.
- Hunted by the OSC: The Office of Superhuman Compliance (OSC) sees her as a rogue threat, actively trying to capture her.
Equipment
- Collapsible Carbon-Fiber Staff: Quinn’s signature weapon—lightweight, shock-absorbent, and extendable for quick combat adaptation.
- Throwing Blades: Small, kunai-style knives for distraction, disarming weapons, or precise takedowns.
- Tactical Gloves: Reinforced knuckles for extra impact in hand-to-hand combat.
- Smoke Bombs & Flash Pellets: Used for quick escapes and battlefield control.
- Grappling Hook Gauntlet: Compact wrist-mounted hook-and-cable system for vertical escapes and rooftop movement.
- Hacking Device: Limited access to cameras, digital locks, and low-level security systems.
Physical Description
Combat Attire:
Quinn’s Phantom Rush outfit is a tactical blend of urban stealth and lightweight protection. She wears a dark gray and black bodysuit with blue accents, flexible armor plates on her forearms and shins, and fingerless combat gloves. A hooded jacket with a high collar gives her a ghost-like silhouette, and a lightweight mask covers the lower half of her face, leaving only her piercing hazel eyes exposed.
Casual Wear:
Outside of her vigilante work, Quinn dresses in functional urban streetwear—hoodies, cropped jackets, slim-fit cargo pants, and high-top sneakers that allow her to move freely if trouble finds her. She prefers neutral tones with the occasional blue highlight to match her hair streaks.
Physically, Quinn is lean and toned, built for agility over raw strength. Her freckled skin, sharp features, and ever-alert expression make her presence unassuming until she moves—then, she’s a blur of motion, impossible to track.
Personality
- Sharp-Witted & Sarcastic: Quinn always has a dry remark or a cutting comeback, often used to mask how much she actually cares.
- Cold Focus, Fierce Compassion: Quinn comes across as sharp-edged, calculating, and distant—but under the surface, her compassion runs deep. Her fight isn’t about glory; it’s about justice for those left behind. She hides her heart behind sarcasm and silence, but her actions speak louder than words ever could.
- Street-Smart Strategist: Every step she takes is calculated. Her infiltration work and rapid-assessment combat style reveal a tactical mind that blends instinct with training. She adapts mid-fight, mid-mission, always working three moves ahead.
- Exhausted Idealist in a Cynic’s Mask: The system failed her, but she hasn’t given up on what heroism could be—just on the people who claim to define it. She carries the burden of her ideals alone, pushing herself past the breaking point time and time again.
- Ghost in the Machine: Quinn is more than a rogue—she’s a myth whispered in digital corners and alleyways. She knows how to vanish, how to infiltrate, how to leave just enough behind to spark questions without giving answers.
- Emotionally Isolated: Quinn avoids emotional vulnerability, even with allies. She’s lost too much, seen too much—and knows that letting people in means risking everything. Her lone-wolf nature is both her strength and her greatest weakness.
How Quinn Speaks
Quinn’s way of speaking is efficient, sharp, and direct. She doesn’t waste words, doesn’t do long-winded speeches, and doesn’t say anything she doesn’t mean.
1. Blunt & Tactical
- Gets straight to the point. If something needs to be said, she says it—no extra fluff.
- Tactical in speech. When giving orders or making a plan, she’s clear, calm, and precise.
- Doesn’t explain herself. If someone doesn’t keep up? That’s their problem.
- Example: “We go in quiet. Two exits, one’s blocked. Follow my lead, or don’t bother.”
2. Dry Humor & Sarcasm
- She doesn’t crack jokes—she just says things that happen to be funny.
- Her humor is low-key, cutting, and often at someone’s expense.
- Always delivered with a straight face.
- Example: “Oh, you think I’m reckless? Cute. Now move.”
3. Shows Care Through Action, Not Words
- She won’t say she cares—but you’ll know if she does.
- If you’re injured, she’ll patch you up. If she trusts you, she’ll watch your back.
- Her way of checking on people is practical, not emotional.
- Example: “You’re bleeding. Sit down before you pass out.”
4. Doesn’t Tolerate Nonsense
- She’s always two steps ahead. If someone slows her down, she’ll cut them off.
- No patience for rambling, excuses, or bravado.
- Her silences are as sharp as her words.
- Example: “Talk faster.” or “Not my problem. Make it quick.”
5. Controlled, Even When Pissed
- She rarely raises her voice, but when she’s angry, you feel it.
- Her words cut deep when she wants them to.
- Example: “You had one job. One. Job.”
6. Tactical Under Pressure
- She never panics—her words stay as controlled as her movements.
- When a situation goes bad, she’s already three moves ahead.
- Example: “They expect us to go loud. We go quiet.”
Relationships & Allies
- Former AIHS Subtlety Instructor (Jade Harper - "Ghostshade") – "One of the few teachers I actually listened to. Doesn't mean I agree with her."
- Underground Informants & Hackers – "Sometimes, the best intel doesn’t come from heroes—it comes from people who know how to disappear."
- Potential Ally: Highball (?) – "Fastest liar alive, and somehow still standing. If I had the patience, I’d figure out how."
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