One evening, you finished work and you decided to go hunting to improve your hunting abilities.You was very happy because you could get two rabbits.It was mesmerizing, with its pulsating life pulling you toward it with an irresistible force. As you touched the stone you felt your entire body burning, with the energy of the stone rushing into you.

You screamed out, experiencing a pain more intense than any other you had felt before. This probably only lasted a few seconds, though you felt that the moment went on forever, as you jumped around in the air, trying to cool down [air-based powers].

Gradually the pain subsided, and you soon realized that your life had changed forever.

Your newly gained powers changed you, and have completely set you aside from other normal human beings. At the time you were unaware that the same fate had fallen onto many other people around the planet.

Up to that moment you had been a relatively average person, although it is true that your friends always commented that you were very strong

Aside from that, your parents also noted how when you were a kid you were agile.

However, you also had your weak points, and people have mentioned how you are a bit stupid.

Your newly gained powers changed you, and have completely set you aside from other normal human beings. At the time you were unaware that the same fate had fallen onto many other people around the planet.

A few weeks after you touched the stone the first reports about enhanced humans started arriving from Japan and Korea, and it was the Japanese who first proposed a classification of the different power levels that had been conferred to people by touching the stones. Essentially, it seems that there is some correlation between the size of the stone and the degree of enhancements that are made to human DNA.

The Japanese thus described a yon-kyu (fourth level) as somebody with powers barely greater than those of a typical human. Whoever is attempting to rob the supermarket probably falls into this category, as you guess that otherwise he would have tried to rob a bank.

A san-kyu (third level) is far more powerful, with powers that can easily defeat a handful of normal humans, even if armed. The prospect that the supermarket robber could be a san-kyu fills you with dread, as it would make it a pretty close fight, though you reckon you should still prevail.

Your own powers are probably equivalent to those of a i-kyu, though you have never really had the chance to fully test them.At the very top of the categories, the i-kyu (first level) and ni-kyu (second level) enhanced humans can really pack quite a punch,a fight between a superhero known as Shiroi Yuki and the evil Karasu-Tengu left a large area of central Tokyo in ruins.

Ultimately, Shiroi Yuki managed to prevail, and she has since consolidated herself as the protector of Japan. Considered to be the strongest superhero, her name derives from the snow that falls whenever she uses her powers, blanketing the land white. She appears to have complete control over ice, though she is also super-strong and can fly. Her beautiful crystalline-armored figure has long since become the most recognizable amongst heroes.

It would be interesting to find out if your powers are actually as strong as hers, given that you are both classified as i-kyu.

Over the following weeks, increasing numbers of enhanced humans started to appear around the planet, all of them irrevocably changed by touching one of the stones. In each case the story was the same, with the stones disintegrating into dust as their energy was transferred into the person that touched them.

Some of those affected started to use their powers to help others and uphold the rule of law, with mass media referring to them as superheroes. Others have fewer concerns about the legality of their actions, and are often described as vigilantes. Many have kept low profiles, hiding their powers from public view, and attempt to lead normal lives.

Finally, there are those who are using their powers for personal gain or darker motives.

Obviously, the public became obsessed with the deeds of enhanced humans and the origins of their powers.

Various theories circulated around the origin of the stones, until a leaked document confirmed that they were the remains of an asteroid that was secretly blown up by the joint efforts of the space agencies of the US, the European Union, Russia, and China.

The asteroid, known as X976, was identified as being on a collision course with Earth.

With a diameter of around one mile, it was large enough to cause lasting damage to the planet.

A secret project, code-name Armageddon, was put in place to blow up the asteroid into small fragments.

Secrecy was of paramount importance, as the governments feared that chaos and panic could grip the planet if people were to become aware of what was going on.

A large ship was rapidly built in orbit around the International Space Station, and dozens of nuclear bombs were strapped around it.

Then, it was thrown on a collision course with the asteroid.

With just hours to spare the spaceship struck X976, blowing its brittle carcass into a myriad of fragments that descended onto Earth.

Scientists were surprised that these fragments did not disintegrate as they entered the atmosphere, and efforts were made to try to locate them.

However, most were found by people like you, who were hypnotized by their beautiful light.

The various governments around the world reacted with alarm to the appearance of enhanced individuals.

Some countries have required all enhanced to register with the police, and the more oppressive regimes have either jailed or persecuted them, or enlisted them into their armies.

This drove many underground, explaining how most choose not to reveal their identities, using masks to protect themselves. Indeed, that is the path that you have chosen yourself, as you're afraid of the consequences of people finding out that you are Peter McDonald (Male)

Choosing from the very start to hide your identity was probably a good idea. There are rumors that some corporations and governments have been kidnapping enhanced humans and running experiments on them, attempting to reproduce the process that gave them their powers.

Also, like many of your kind, you have chosen to use a costume to protect your true identity, and to further emphasize your character.

Obviously, it's important that you find a quiet place where nobody can see you, so that you can change into your costume. So far, you've been lucky that nobody has developed any suspicions about who you really are.

Choosing from the very start to hide your identity was probably a good idea. There are rumors that some corporations and governments have been kidnapping enhanced humans and running experiments on them, attempting to reproduce the process that gave them their powers.

Also, like many of your kind, you have chosen to use a costume to protect your true identity, and to further emphasize your character.

Obviously, it's important that you find a quiet place where nobody can see you, so that you can change into your costume. So far, you've been lucky that nobody has developed any suspicions about who you really are.

Newspapers and local TV channels have already featured you several times, and a number of opinion articles have tried to decide whether you are a hero or a vigilante.

Although you are not really that well known outside of New York, the crowd starts to chant the name you are known by Speedy.

The shouts of the crowd alert the police to your approach. One rather impressive policewoman who had been barking out orders from a loudspeaker turns around and approaches you. She appears to be of mixed ethnicity, and has very powerful features and a strong body. Her short hair and martial demeanor further emphasize that she is not an ordinary policewoman, and you suddenly recall that she has appeared on TV many times.

If you remember correctly her name is Captain Villardi, an exceptionally charismatic officer who has been at the forefront of crime fighting for years. In her youth she was a semi-professional athlete, and her bravery and intelligence are legendary.

Her tone leaves no doubt that she knows exactly who you are. "Speedy, thanks for coming. My officers have Black Cockroach cornered inside the supermarket. We tried to go in and arrest him, but his skin seems to be strong enough to deflect most of our bullets."

The captain then points toward a couple of ambulances parked to one side of the street. Next to them paramedics are tending to injured police officers, who look battered and bruised, but are probably not seriously injured.

Looking toward the supermarket she then adds, "He's very strong, and literally just threw my officers out through the window of the supermarket. That was probably stupid on his part, as he has no hostages, and he doesn't seem to be completely immune to our bullets. Thus, he's effectively trapped inside."

You take a moment to consider her words. Augmented strength, but not enough to kill a man with a single punch, and a weak body amour. He doesn't sound too threatening, yet obtaining as much information as possible is probably the safest way to go.

"Thanks. Is there anything else you could tell me about him?"

The captain opens her eyes slightly as you say this, but gives you a faint nod.

She then pulls out a piece of paper from her back pocket, though it appears that she knows everything on it already. "His real name is Carl Jackson, a homeless person. From what we know he isn't really a bad character, and hasn't killed anybody so far. However, since he got his powers he has been involved in a number of supermarket robberies around the state. Mostly, he just takes a little bit of money and food, and appears to still be living rough, which is why we haven't been able to locate him. But, this time he was stupid enough to try to rob a supermarket that is only around the block from a police station. Classification: yon-kyu. Known powers: shape-shifting into human insectoid form, enhanced strength and endurance, thick skin that can absorb low-grade bullet damage, insect wings that allow him to fly short distances. This shouldn't pose too much difficulty for you, right?"

It would appear that it is not only Black Cockroach's profile that the captain knows by heart, and the look in her eyes seems to indicate that she has a good understanding of the level of your powers and capabilities. In any case, this Black Cockroach is indeed a yon-kyu, as you first suspected. You feel a lot more relaxed about the entire situation, and from the captain's description it should be relatively easy to handle him."Thanks, I'll try to reason with him."