The Future
Is Weird

Charles "Charlie" Baker
West-coast based british inhuman scientist

Quick info

Name: Charles “Charlie” Baker
Age: 24 years old (Janaury 27th)
Origin: Oxford (England)
Job: Independent tech contractor
Species: Unspecified inhuman mutate
Blood type: AB+
Sexuality: Bisexual

Charlie Baker's story

Charles Baker was born the middle child of three into The Faction — a secret global scientific network coalition of brilliant, rogue scientists operating outside the constraints of governments and private corporations. Their mission: to push humanity beyond its biological, technological and physical limits, free from the constraints of current modern science.Charlie’s parents, both leading researchers, were key players in one of The Faction's most ambitious projects: the Genetic Ascendance Program, codenamed “Lungbarrow”. This program sought to create naturally, genetically enhanced humans—far removed from any other source of power such as radiation, magic, cosmic forces, and specially, the X-gene. The goal was to engineer beings with abilities that would surpass the course of natural evolution itself.The Baker siblings were the product of this experiment:- Amelia Baker: The eldest and unmodified by design, she served as the baseline control for the experiment.- Charles Baker: The middle child, whose genes were initially altered to have superior intelligence and specific markers believed to grant him a latent, nondescript power.- Matthew Baker: The youngest, initially altered for greater strength, with his own set of modified genetic markers that may lead to powers in a similar fashion to Charlie’s—but different in nature.What no one foresaw was their mother’s ancient, dormant Inhuman lineage—a forgotten bloodline disconnected from the seclusion of Attilan. This latent heritage carried the potential for Terrigenesis that would only manifest later.As the organization’s methods grew darker—venturing into unethical experimentation and the weaponization of whatever they developed, from tech to living beigns—Charlie’s parents made the decision to defect. They took their children and disappeared into civilian life in the United Kingdom, cutting all ties with their past. They abandoned their scientific careers, choosing mundane jobs to protect their children and bury their connection to The FactionCharlie’s connection to his heritage and his genetic modifications became apparent at the start of his teenage years. A semi-dormant power began to manifest—one that appeared to give him control over light. This control, however, was faulty and unpredictable. He could influence brightness, and color and intensity of light, but the effects were inconsistent, sometimes powerful and other times barely noticeable. His powers were unstable, fluctuating wildly and activating even subconsciously, often causing internal strain that left him vulnerable to dangerous energy outbursts.Haunted by the fear that he was no different from the mutants portrayed as “villains” in the news, Charlie struggled to conceal his powers from those around him. Unlike Amelia and Matthew, whose potential powers were still hidden, Charlie fought an internal battle against his malfunctioning abilities.Driven by the need for answers, Charlie immersed himself in the study of Physics, Biology, and Technology, hoping to stabilize his powers—or at least find a way to survive them. The genetic modifications that had enhanced him only fueled his thirst for knowledge, and he became increasingly determined to solve the puzzle of his abilities.At 16, Charlie left for the United States on a scholarship to attend a prestigious university, his family following. His academic excellence served as both a cover and a lifeline. But his life was soon upended when a Terrigen Bomb was detonated and the resulting Terrigen Mist spread across Earth, awakening the latent Inhuman genes in people around the world.The mist did not trigger a full cocoon on Charlie, as his genetic expression had already been triggered and, while it did not grant Charlie any extra powers, it unlocked the full potential of his already unstable abilities, supercharging his connection to the electromagnetic spectrum. The powers he had once struggled to control grew more intense and volatile, but with enough focus, Charlie was now able to exercise more consistent control over them—so long as he remained calm and concentrated.Despite this newfound control, Charlie remained untrained and unsure of how to manage his powers. His fear of becoming a hazard to those around him led him to take up work as an independent technology contractor, hoping to keep his abilities hidden from the public eye.Now, he faces the terrifying reality that his powers are no longer faulty— but dangerously volatile. If left unchecked, his unstable connection to the electromagnetic spectrum could turn him into a radiological hazard, endangering everyone in proximity. Even with his improved control, there’s always the risk of an overload, an out-of-control burst of energy that could have catastrophic consequences.Charlie must find a way to continue hiding his powers while navigating the challenges of his life in the U.S and the looming question of his heritage and his parents past—and whether his destiny will pull him into a world he’s tried to avoid for so long.

Appearance

Charlie Baker stands tall at 186 cm (6'1"), with a stocky, muscular build developed through rigorous physical training—a discipline he adopted to help control his unstable powers, making his presence intimidating at first glance.With a skin more averagely tanned than most people from his homeland and decorated with faint freckles, his most distinctive feature is his copper-ish red hair, medium-length and wavy, which forms loose curls if left to grow longer. Complementing this is his unkempt beard—a slightly darker red, giving him a rugged, weathered appearance. The only contrast to his otherwise red-toned hair is his striking deep green eyes, often the first thing people notice when meeting him.Charlie’s usual attire reflects a balance of practicality and casual comfort. He often wears long boots and tight jeans, paired with comfortable shirts or a jacket over t-shirts—pragmatic enough to handle unexpected physical strain, but relaxed enough to avoid drawing too much attention.

Powers

Charlie possesses the ability to manipulate the electromagnetic spectrum—the entire range of electromagnetic radiation—from radio waves to gamma rays.
However, unlike most other energy-wielding individuals, he cannot generate radiation or light from thin air nor become radiation himself. He can only manipulate the existing electromagnetic energy present in his environment.

Capabilities & Applications:

Radiation Manipulation:
- Control over ambient EM radiation, including visible light, radio waves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.- Can concentrate, redirect, reflect, or absorb radiation to varying degrees.- Can theoretically "combine" lower-energy radiation (like visible light) to create higher-energy waves, though this is inefficient and extremely draining.

Light and Color Manipulation:
- Change the color and intensity of light.- Bend light around objects or himself for limited invisibility or stealth.- Create illusions by redirecting light — visual-only, with no physical presence. These require less energy than constructs but still drain him.

Construct Creation (Solid Light):
- Can solidify light temporarily into simple, functional constructs (shields, barriers, small weapons) with limited detail and size — no bigger than himself.- Max 1-2 constructs at a time. Maintaining them drains energy significantly and demands constant focus.- Constructs vanish the moment his concentration breaks.

Radiation Storage:- Can temporarily "store" radiation within his body, but his biological limits make this dangerous.- Overload State: Absorbing too much energy leads to uncontrollable, violent energy discharges, turning Charlie into a radiological hazard. This state is chaotic, destructive, and harms him internally.

Enhanced Senses:- Passive sensitivity to electromagnetic changes—allowing him to detect radiation levels or see wavelengths beyond normal human vision (infrared, UV) when focused.

Limitations:

Environmental Dependency:
- Cannot create radiation. Limited by the amount and type of energy available in his surroundings.- In low-light or low-radiation environments, his power is drastically reduced.

Internal Strain:
- Manipulating higher-energy radiation (UV, X-rays, gamma) is immensely taxing and can cause internal damage or trigger his overload state.

Overload Risk:- Prolonged use or excess absorption leads to uncontrollable "venting" — dangerous, often involuntary bursts of radiation.

Personality

Trapped between the science logic world and emotions he oftentimes can't control, Charlie Baker is methodical, perceptive and extremely intelligent, but also introspective to a point that might sometimes touch emotional numbness. He usually can't afford to be overtly trusting and, even if seemingly cold or distant, his errors, ambitions and his unstable powers usually weigh him down. His humor is dry, his empathy subtle, and his patience always walking a tightrope. Despite the guarded exterior, there’s a quiet urgency in him—a need to understand, to fix what’s broken, to fix himself.Charlie isn't interested in being a hero—he doesn't wear a name or chase recognition. He works in the margins, uncomfortable with praise, cautious with connection, dragging buried emotions to the surface. Through it all, Charlie keeps going—not out of heroism, but out of obsession, out of some deeper question he can’t let go of. He's not trying to save the world. He's trying to make sense of it.