Power Origins
While in the womb Nikolai was irradiated by a quasar. This both reversed his personal timeline, and gave him his other powers.
Abilities
Io's good with a gun, but better with any kind of bludgeoning device. He's an expert at torture techniques, but can play the spy when need be…he can construct a wiretap, a bug, etc in a matter of minutes. He's a great hand-to-hand fighter, but relies more on utilizing his mass and strength than any recognized style.
Being a member of the Russian Mob, he has friends in high places.
Io can speak English, but as he de-ages his vocabulary decreases. He worries that soon his skills will begin to vanish like his languages have.
Biography
Nikolai Petrovich Petrov was born at the height of Soviet power. Though born might not be the operative word. He suffers from 'Benjamin Button' syndrome, meaning he came into existence at the end of life, and ages backwards. So Nikolai spent the first years of his life extremely confused (as Benjamin Button sufferers often have full knowledge, and occasionally even memories). He stayed locked in a room of his parent's home, hiding from the government. He had no papers. He had no identity. No one would believe that he was a newborn, most likely he would be considered a fugitive of sorts.
It was a miracle, but he was not discovered. He did not need to fully de-age…he needed only to be young enough to still be considered useful. But how long had he been locked away? Fifteen years…he had been locked away like a bird in a cage, for fifteen years. During that time he had honed his body and mind…what else was there to do? He could vent his frustration against the bunch of rags wrapped around some rocks, or he could kill himself….and he wasn't even sure he could die, as he already knew he would live to a ripe old age.
So finally, at 15 (or was he really in his eighties? His nineties? Who knew?) Nikolai set out to make his way in the world. His parents watched him go, frankly quite relieved that such an abnormality, a freak of nature, was now off their hands.
Nikolai went directly to the government, something that common sense very much dictated he should not do. This act in itself (rather than being found and made a fugitive) quite possibly saved Nikolai's life. After some testing, (lie detectors, blood, loyalty), Nikolai was made a low-ranking member of the KGB. Who better to be on the secret police then a man who officially doesn't exist?
For the sake of decency Nikolai's crimes against humanity will not be mentioned in detail. It is enough to say that he sent many to their deaths at camps, made many innocents 'disappear'. The more atrocious his actions, the higher he rose in the ranks of the KGB. By the time the Soviet Union fell, Nikolai was among the elite. And the bigger they are, the harder they fall….
And now, Nikolai's aging began to work against him. Old men do not fear old men…they will die together. But to watch one grow younger as you grow decrepit, that brings fear. It is possible that if Nikolai was old and frail he would have been inducted into the new ruling elite…but instead he was put on trial for his crimes. There was no doubt he was guilty. He held himself like a murderer, he was much too cold. The verdict: he could flee the country…he had 24 hours…or he would be executed. Nikolai chose flight.
He took the trains to the sea, and from there got work on a ship to America, paying his way by helping the crew. His reputation followed him.
Nikolai jumped into the ocean almost a mile from shore to avoid passport control. He swam all the way to solid ground, coming ashore in southern California.
Nikolai was not the only one exiled from the former Soviet Union…he used his old contacts to get a position as a legbreaker in the Russian Mob. His strength, smarts, and skills allowed him to quickly rise through the ranks until he controlled much of Los Angeles.
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