Hacks. Hero or Menace?

Continuing with RPGaDay2026 we have another superhero for the Reformed Cinematic Universe.

Character Name: Marlon Johnson.
Codename: Hacks.
Team: The Reformed.
Powers: Cybernetic Interface, Teleportation.
Incarcerated For: Breaking and Entering, Burglary, Computer Crimes, Hacking, various minor charges.

Marlon Johnson was a victim of circumstance originally. He was a fairly average high school kid living in inner city Detroit when a freak bolt of lighting struck him and the laptop he was using through an open window. Somehow Marlon survived even though the house was destroyed and his laptop. No one else was home at the time.

Desperate to get a new laptop and get into a decent college, Marlon began planning thefts of the components he would need to build a new computer. That’s when he discovered his unique ability to interact with various electronic devices using just his mind. Soon electronics stores were missing high dollar inventory with no indication of anything on camera or alarms triggered.

Then Marlon got a little too cocky. He thought he found the perfect bank. He had the cameras shut down, the alarms disabled, and the vault unlocked in the First National Bank. He confidently walked through the front door with two empty duffel bags ready to steal his college tuition. He didn’t count on the branch manager working late. Before Marlon could finish filling the second bag, police had the building surrounded.

Walking out of the vault with money in hand, Marlon was staring down the barrels of guns held by several angry looking police officers. Marlon wished to be anywhere, but where he was. He thought about his favorite burger restaurant. He remembered his favorite booth where he hung out with his brother and friends. Just as he was putting the first bag on the floor, POOF! He was in the restaurant, money still in hand.

Marlon managed to erase the police body cam footage from the incident as soon as he got home through the second use of his teleportation. He learned that the power has a range that becomes progressively shorter each time he used it and the power itself was becoming exhausting with each use. Marlon breathed easy knowing he was set for life, and no one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Marlon, his brother got messed up with the wrong gang. Tragedy struck as his parents were gunned down in front of the house, and police showed up asking a lot of questions. Marlon managed to hide his ill-gotten gain in the attic, but freeing his brother from federal custody was another issue entirely.

What Marlon didn’t know is that his brother’s incarceration was mostly to bait him into using his powers one last time. The Unknown Detective had experience dealing with teleporters and cyber criminals. It didn’t take him long to sus out Marlon and his brother. His family’s death was an unintended side effect of angering a violent gang who were later brought to custody by the Unknown Detective.

Marlon’s brother was later released and found not guilty due to a technicality. Marlon teleported himself directly into a holding cell where the Detective slapped nullifying isolation cuffs on his wrists as soon as he appeared. Marlon was later sentenced and sent to the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where he met Jack Kingston and agreed to help the team in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Marlon has turned out to be one of the team’s most powerful assets. He can control communications, hack into almost any facility that has a computer, teleport into any room he has seen or can see through various camera systems. He once even grounded a helicopter before a notorious gangster could escape arrest.

He has a crush on his teammate, Charade. Jack does not approve of any fraternization on the team, but Marlon frequently messages Charade and they spend a lot of time together when Jack isn’t looking. He also sneaks out for pizza and burgers after lights out. So far he hasn’t gotten caught nor has he committed any crimes while working with The Reformed.

Marlon does still bear a grudge against The Unknown Detective and has been trying to track down the mystery masked man for a showdown. Luckily, Detective keeps a low profile and lives completely off the grid.

Hacks came up for this prompt because his reach extends far and wide due to his ability to see anywhere with a camera on the internet and usually teleport there. Hacks is what has been classified as a “serial teleporter” because he has to make multiple jumps to cover long distances. If pushed too hard, repeated rapid teleportation has landed him in the hospital with nosebleeds, dehydration, severe exhaustion, and a seizure on one occasion. Luckily he is not a criminal at heart and Jack is hoping to reign him in to make Hacks a force for good.

All characters mentioned in this post are fictional. Any semblance to real world individuals living or deceased is purely unintentional. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!