Name: Terisa Eleanor Baker Freeman
|
 |
Background: There were many surprises when Ellie Baker died in 1976, leaving her husband and daughter in shock. In fact, when the blue uniformed police officers came to the door and told District Judge Baker that his wife had died, in combat against VIPER agents, Baker had been rude. "Don't be absurd," he'd snapped, closing the door in the officers' faces. "Ellie is playing bridge not two blocks away." It was only after he had been dragged down to the coroner's office to identify the body that he realized it was true - his wife had been the superheroine the press had dubbed "Windy" (silly, but it was the seventies and she was an air elemental.)
Terisa
had no way of knowing that from the moment that Ellie had died, her mother's
powers had passed to her, along with a substantial trust fund she hadn't
known had existed. In fact, it wasn't until she was at college that she
figured it out. Sure, she was one of those amazing people who can study
for 48 hours at a stretch without seeming to need sleep, but she chalked
that up to being healthy and young. She started to wonder, however, when
she forgot to eat anything for a week and a half. But it wasn't until
she was attacked in her junior year, walking with a fellow student, Larry
Washington, back from the library on campus that she was even aware of
her more powerful abilities. When the gang approached them, Terisa snapped,
and sudden bursts of wind swept the gang members up, slamming them against
a nearby building.
Larry began pressuring her to become a superheroine, but Terisa balked, concerned about the legality of being a costumed vigilante. However, she was never one to idly stand by while innocents were harmed, and so she reluctantly began to fight crime in between studying rhetoric and preparing for the LSAT. While rough around the edges when she began -- she made many silly mistakes -- she quickly gained confidence and became noted for her efficiency.
Her career as a crimefighter continued through law school and until she passed the BAR exam. But Terisa's doubts continued about the appropriateness of her actions. When she was given her first job - a connection of her father's, trying to make good on a personal debt - as a junior prosecutor, she began a period of soul searching. And she found that she honestly didn't believe she was fighting crime the right way. This is not to say that she didn't continue to anonymously help citizens of Chicago when she could - more than once, Terisa would be among those standing by as a fire raged in a high rise, and as people were miraculously scooped up by the wind and placed in safety. However, she stuffed the old costume away in a trunk, and concentrated on her career.
Terisa met Ernie Freeman soon after graduating from law school. She'd been sent to the PRIMUS facility on South Dearborn to take statements from the Silver Avenger, regarding a case where PRIMUS had assisted Chicago police with the recapture of the LUNATIC AVENGER. The normally uptight Terisa laughed until she cried as Freeman humorously described what had happened, and (after she finally got the whole story out of him) she accepted his offer of dinner. While Ernie proposed the first night, Terisa laughingly declined, only accepting his offer of marriage after they'd dated for over a year. Freeman - a self-made man who'd grown up in the projects - was not the sort that Judge Baker had imagined for his Brahmin daughter, and he put his foot down. And for the first time in her life, Terisa defied him.
Before their wedding, Terisa confessed to Ernie about her past life as a crimefighter, and was astonished when he admonished her for stopping. "You're insane, Ernie! How can I run around in tights at night, bashing bad guys then go to court the next day and prosecute them!"
"You did just tell me that you don't have to sleep, Teri."
She just sighed, knowing she had the right. However, she's always thought of returning to the skies of Chicago - not flying is hard for her - and if presented with a convincing argument, she might just swallow her reservations and return to the other sort of crimefighting life.
Powers/Tactics: Despite the fact that she doesn't need to sleep, Terisa often catches three to four hours a night. Not only does this make her feel more "normal," but it helps maintain the facade she keeps for the children, none of whom suspect that she is capable of what she is. Ernie procured a PRIMUS suit of armor, a thin mesh material which is powerful enough to withstand small arms fire, in order that she would be protected should she decide to act as a superhero again in the future.
Terisa possesses the ability to manipulate forces of the air, and this ranges from blasting with the force of a hurricane to blinding them with debris. She can fly - rapidly - but she is unable to fly and to anything else at the same time, though she can hover. This is a problem of focus, and she'll work to overcome it.
Personality: Most people would be surprised to find that behind the extremely competent and often cool exterior Terisa shows the world, she's actually often unsure of herself. She is still intimidated by her father, Judge Baker, and often accedes to his will rather than argue with him. Her defiance of him in the matter of her husband speaks strongly for her passion for Ernie. Terisa is deeply in love with her husband, and his goofiness and humor counteract her seriousness. (Her familiarity with Streetwise skill is Ernie's attempt to "normalize" his uptight wife.)
Rather than giving her confidence, her paranormal abilities complicate matters greatly for her - she sees acting as a paranormal vigilante as breaking the laws she's sworn to uphold as an attorney for Cook County. Despite this, she would never hesitate to act to save another's life.
The sterness of Terisa's upbringing is what has motivated her to have such a large family, and it's only when she's surrounded by her husband and children that she truly can relax and even joke. Few outsiders get to see her like this - the Golden Avenger, DJ Johnson, is one (the kids just adore him), and family friend and attorney Larry Washington is another. A situation that would madden most people - the chaos of four children and living with a strong-willed mother-in-law -- is comforting to her. She's an excellent mother, and is perfectly consistent in dealing with her children, but worries that she might end up being as cold as her father.
Likes and Dislikes: Terisa responds badly to people to judge her by her looks (must be stupid) or make assumptions because she's African-American. She despises the majority of African-American sitcoms (such as those on FOX and UPN) for perpetuating stereotypes. She likes Swiss chocolate and breakfast in bed on Mother's Day and her birthday. Minor dislikes include when Rachelle throws a temper tantrum in the grocery store and when she has to break in new clerks at work.
Goals: To become District Attorney. To give birth to a child and pass on the legacy of her mother (she has already been in contact with Hudson Industries about the procedure which would allow Ernie to have children). To help raise money for AIDS research - nothing breaks her heart more than the thought that two of her children could develop full-blown AIDS any day, without warning.
Appearance: Terisa is 6'0 and is very slender, weighing 138 pounds. Her skin is a dusky brown, and her hair is very short, black, and curly, perhaps only a quarter of an inch long. She has exquisite features, and large brown eyes. In court she wears brown or black business suits and wirerimmed glasses (which she feels make her look more respectable), while at home she's usually in whatever's clean (typically jeans and sweatshirts.)
Terisa carries herself with dignity, and cuts and impressive figure. When she enters a room, all eyes turn to her, but she never gives the appearance of noticing.
Quote: "Jacob, let go of your sister's hair!" "Rachelle, don't throw your oatmeal against the wall." "The prosecution calls ____ to the stand, Your Honor."
A Day in the Life: Terisa's days typically start very early, usually around 3 am. She wakes up (careful not to disturb Ernie), makes coffee and reviews the case she's working on for an hour. She then prepares the kids' lunches and at 5 am, she wakes Ernie up, and in good weather, they go running outside, while in bad weather, they work out together in the basement exercise room. After returning, they wake up the kids and begin getting ready for work.
Terisa is usually assigned to tough cases - she has an excellent reputation in her field. From 9-12 she is either in court, meeting with witnesses, researching a case, or holding staff meetings. Ernie usually brings her lunch and they eat in her office (or on court days, near the courthouse.) From 1-5, she continues to work, often staying later than five, but usually making it home in time for dinner. Dinner in the Freeman household is sacred, and rarely will Terisa risk her mother-in-law's wrath for missing it.
Sundays the whole brood goes to church at Betty's insistence - not in Wilmette, but to an AME church near the projects, where Ernie was raised.
The Freeman household: There are currently seven people living in the Freeman household - Ernie, Terisa, their four children, and Ernie's sixty-five year old mother Betty, who keeps the house and watches the kids. Betty has mother-in-law quarters in an outbuilding, but comes over to the main house and stays there for most of the day.
The kids:
· Jacob was eight when he was adopted by Terisa and Ernie, and is now seventeen. Recently accepted to Northwestern, Jacob plays soccer and plans to study medicine.
· Anna is now nine, and is HIV positive. She was also a crack baby and has learning disabilities. Despite this, she works very hard in school and her work is now slightly above grade level, though it means that she is spending twice as much time as other students on it. More than anything else, Anna emulates Terisa's even moods. She hopes to be an attorney like her mother.
· Rachelle is five, and just starting kindergarten. She is a willful child, and often defies Terisa (Ernie believes she's just trying to provoke her). She relates well to Ernie, however, and usually Terisa is content to let him handle her.
· Terisa and Ernie's youngest is Trent, a three-year-old HIV positive Cambodian boy who'd been dumped at a hospital at the tender age of six hours, parents unknown. He is exceptionally bright and has already begun to read.