Question Hank (Lancer)

New forum, new stories, new (and empty) forum topic.

Now an official, true POV character of the Whateley Verse, let's all discuss Hank!

Hank is one of the two TK members that is not actually overpowered and needing some reworking to realign with the WU bible. Your voice for Hank in To Sleep Perchance to Dream is the only instance of Hank as a POV character, so until you produce more there isn't a lot to work with.

I would love to see more of Hank and how he is dealing with keeping his past enjoyments and feelings a secret from everyone except his girlfriend. I would love for Jade to be the 1st to find out but after less than a minute of teasing see how hurt Hank is and be serious for once. A heartfelt scene with Hank revealing to Jade what we learned about him in To Sleep, Perchance to Dream would be another tear jerker.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: New forum, new stories, new (and empty) forum topic.

Now an official, true POV character of the Whateley Verse, let's all discuss Hank!

From what people are saying here is a chance for a new character to be fleshed out. You breathed life into him whereas before he was just a passing prop. Background story (if there is one) would need to be fleshed out as with future plans.

Give him a much more active role, for here's your chance to shine.

Oh, and no pressure.

Dawnfyre wrote: Hank is one of the two TK members that is not actually overpowered and needing some reworking to realign with the WU bible.

Which is amusing to me, since if I recall correctly, Hank is one of the more powerful bricks on campus. Also, I'm not at all sure which of the other TK members is being counted as not overpowered.

there are at least 2 other bricks on campus that are stronger than Hank, so he isn't overpowered.

He is one of the more powerful bricks on campus, but there are many that are as strong or stronger.

His complete vulnerability to Psi and Magic means he isn't over powered.

And I would like see some older scene through Hank's POV, not as detailed as Ayla's per se, but there are times when Hank was off on his, meeting with the Grunts, perhaps or just on a date with Wallflower, that would be interesting to see fleshed out.

One 'of' but not 'the' most powerful. It has been mentioned and is in canon that Kodiac had held back as he didn't want to hurt him.

I'm interested in re-reading any Canon story where Hank talks about pre-Whateley things. I found his introduction in "Welcome to Poe", but if people know of other stories where he provides information, I'd welcome it.

As I recall it Kodiak "took a dive" because he didn't want to obey the Don's order to attack but wasn't ready to defy him.

Ib12us wrote: One 'of' but not 'the' most powerful. It has been mentioned and is in canon that Kodiac had held back as he didn't want to hurt him.

It's hard to tell with Cody since Phase one-punched him in the Tansy brawl. Perhaps Cody doesn't have a lot of "passive" strength but when he puts his mind to it, he is much stronger.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: I'm interested in re-reading any Canon story where Hank talks about pre-Whateley things. I found his introduction in "Welcome to Poe", but if people know of other stories where he provides information, I'd welcome it.

I've been re-reading canon in release order and haven't noticed anything really. He's always off with Lily or the Grunts or getting picked on. He never opens up really or maybe it's the fact that the POV characters are too self-centered to write Hank's dialog verbatim.

Cody went ten rounds with Champion as a freshman. yes, he lost, but he went TEN ROUNDS. If he had been actually fighting with either Hank or Phase he would have taken them apart all while giving a commentary on the mistakes they were making.

E. E. Nalley wrote: Cody went ten rounds with Champion as a freshman. yes, he lost, but he went TEN ROUNDS. If he had been actually fighting with either Hank or Phase he would have taken them apart all while giving a commentary on the mistakes they were making.

That doesn't discount what I said. Ayla one-punched him because she had surprise. He isn't always Champion level strong. But when he's aware and trying hard, he can get to that level.

It's canon that Cody took a fall in the Breakfast brawl, neither Ayla nor Hank should have been able to take him, he just didn't want to fight them so stayed down.

Or Ayla knew he didn't want to fight and threw Kodiak a large wad of bills so that he could go and have breakfast faster.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: It's canon that Cody took a fall in the Breakfast brawl, neither Ayla nor Hank should have been able to take him, he just didn't want to fight them so stayed down.

Apparently Kodiak just underestimated Hank:

From Jade 4: Bottle of Jinn wrote: Kodiak smiled grimly at the smaller, younger boy. “I’ll give you a chance to back down and leave. No one would blame you.”

The kid returned his smile. “I’ve never backed down in my life.”

Kodiak nodded approval, then summoned the bear. He knew the image of the gigantic grizzly as it roared and flickered around him was enough to terrify most opponents. During the moment when the boy would be frozen, Kodiak swung an easy underhand, punching straight into the younger boy’s gut. He didn’t use his full strength, of course. He didn’t want to kill the boy.

His fist stopped as if he’d hit solid steel. The boy didn’t budge so much as a millimeter.

“My turn!”

Moving as he spoke, the boy grabbed his extended arm, turned and swung. Kodiak was 240 pounds of solid muscle, but the boy swung him up and over like he was a rag doll. He had an instant to cry out, “Shit!” before being slammed on his back hard enough to knock all breath from him and bring stars to his eyes.

He lay there gasping helplessly. It would be a while before he could rise again, and minutes more before he could fight.(emphasis added)

Bottle of Jinn is a multi-POV story. This isn't Jade's impression of the fight. She probably didn't even see this going on.

A few minutes later:

From Jade 4: Bottle of Jinn wrote: Normally, Kodiak might have put up a better showing, but he was still catching his breath. And, bent over as he was, his chin made a nearly perfect target. So when Ayla swung, it caught him utterly by surprise. And although the punch didn’t hit with the power of a freight train, it did have the impact of a good-sized SUV. So Kodiak barely had time to think, “Not again!” before he was, once again, flat on the ground.

And Ayla was heard to mutter, “Damn, that was satisfying!”

The Early stories all have Ayla and Hank winning (through surprise, 'one shots', extra.), it's explained in the later stories (where Cody does a coup on the Alpha's) that Cody was tricking them in order to still appear loyal to the Alphas, while at the same time not wanting to hurt team Kimba, he basically took a dive in the breakfast brawl and sat it out, allowing Team Kimba the win.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: The Early stories all have Ayla and Hank winning (through surprise, 'one shots', extra.), it's explained in the later stories (where Cody does a coup on the Alpha's) that Cody was tricking them in order to still appear loyal to the Alphas, while at the same time not wanting to hurt team Kimba, he basically took a dive in the breakfast brawl and sat it out, allowing Team Kimba the win.

That's his story, and he's sticking to it.

Seriously, unless the Kodiak gives him a significant strength boost, Hank is as strong or stronger thsn Wyatt. Hank is also more impervious to damage. Wyatt is much more experienced, and at the time probably more ruthless.

Ayla's punch was probably more of a sting and surprise that the skinny "girl" packs a big punch. Ayla is no where near as strong as Wyatt, but hitting with a rock hard fist helps.

Maybe a combination of both? Wyatt sitting on the ground going 'how the hell did that happen?' then realises he has an out and just stays down.

I'm not saying Hank and Ayla didn't knock him on his ass, I'm just saying that it is 'canon' that he then chose not to get back up and continue the fight.

You can't use the breakfast brawl to judge the relative fighting abilities of Hank or Ayla vs. Wyatt Cody because it's canon that Wyatt chose to stop fighting and allow them the win, Wyatt never goes 'full Kodiac' on them. The entire fight from Wyatt's perspective is an excersice in self restraint were he is trying to do the least amount of damage he can get away with without tipping off the Don that he is tricking him.

Your basically trying to argue the equivalent of 'in a training excersice Aquerna threw Tennyo to the mat and she stayed down, therefor with surprise Aquerna can beat Tennyo.'

I'm going with Phoenix. They surprised him by their strength, and he just went with it because really it was a stupid fight from his perspective.

You know I really hoped I wouldn't have to spell things out like this. I thought by being specific but slightly vague it would be fairly obvious to those who are watching what the truth here was. Obviously I'm mistaken.

Hank is strong for a freshman. Hank is a skilled combatant for a freshman. Wyatt Cody is a senior. Wyatt Cody could take Hank apart one-handed while trying desperately not to be bored doing it. Kodiak is stronger than Lancer, tougher than Lancer, and a far more dangerous opponent than Lancer. It's been established in dialogue from Poise, Mechano-man, Stronghold and other students throughout the stories. Here let me quote the relevant examples:

Even Murphy's Law has loopholes wrote: Steve’s radial nerve suddenly reacted to the pressure it was under and fired, causing his Triceps brachii muscle to contract. This unlocked his elbow with sufficiently sudden force that it surprised him and, before he could react, Elaine guided the motion of his arm and shoved his fist into his groin.

The air was forced from his lungs in a high wail of agony as his remarkably pale blue/green eyes crossed and he fell to his knees fighting back tears. “How’s that invulnerability working out for ya, bro?” demanded Elaine with an evil smile as she stood well out of reach to taunt him.

“How?” he wailed in his agony as he fell over to his side, clutching his wounded groin to protect it from further harm. “Dad and I tried everything,” he gasped. “Two by fours, tire irons, God, he even shot me once we were sure! What the fuck?!”

Now that should establish Strongholds abilities, but since we are being clear let me go ahead and spell out that Stronghold is roughly on par with Lancer. Their power sets are not identical and they approach the problem of how to be TK Superman from different angles but they are equivalent.

Even Murphy's Law has loopholes wrote: “My sister told you to keep your hands to yourself,” Monolith snarled.

“You got stones, kid,” the senior replied with a chuckle, “I like that, but right now the adults are talking. Why don’t you go run along…?” Cody couldn’t continue as the younger boy had balled a fist and hit him across the mouth hard enough so snap his head to the side. The senior reached up and wiped away the trail of blood from his cut lip with the back of his hand. “Alright, I’m officially impressed,” he admitted.

Inside himself, however, Monolith was worried. He’d punched this big man with everything he’d had, and he could bend steel. He should have gone flying and all he’d managed was a lip bleed. “Look, you don’t know me, boy, so I’m going to cut you some slack,” the senior was saying. Steve balled a fist and tried a left cross, but the big man caught his fist mid throw and stopped it cold as the humor left Kodiak’s face. “But if you slap me again I’m going to throw you a beating,” he finished, menace dripping from his tone of voice. “Now, I’m going to have a conversation with your sister and you’re not going to interrupt me again, savvy?”

“Steve,” warned Elaine from behind the senior, one hand fishing in her purse. “Steve, he can take you apart without breaking a sweat.”

The secret of the forgers list wrote: Lancer crossed his arms over his broad chest and laughed. “He’s not that tough.”

Thuban scowled at the freshman. “Don’t delude yourself, boy. The only reason you won that fight is because Kodiak’s heart wasn’t in it. He could take you apart with one hand and your girlfriend’s entire team with the other.”

Hank smirked. “You think so, huh?”

“It’s true,” Arthur informed him softly. “I shared a room with Kody most of my time here, and I’m here to tell you the only reason you won is Kody wasn’t really fighting.”

The official leader of Team Kimba rubbed his jaw in memory of a particularly solid blow that had landed. “It didn’t seem that way at the time.”

“Are you alive?” asked Poise quietly from her new place. Hank nodded quizzically. “Then he wasn’t really fighting,” she finished.

Whilst any speaks wrote: "Land in Doyle medical if you're lucky," snapped Mark. "Or go home in a box if Kodiak isn't careful. That man went ten rounds with Champion as a Freshman! He all but killed a junior that same year. Beat his brains into mush and the brain that grew back was blank. Might as well have killed him! And he's only gotten better! The three of us together couldn't take Kodiak!"

"Yeah but that kid Lancer..."

Tupolo snorted in disgust. "Lancer was lucky that Kodiak didn't want to fight and took a dive. I was there." The red head gave his room mate a questioning look. "Hey, my Uncle runs a gym back in Philly, I know when a fighter takes a fall. Kodiak could have and still can eat Lancer for lunch and wonder what's for dinner after."

"Didn't you say you punched him?" asked Mark softly. "How'd that work out for you?"

Steve sighed. "He laughed and offered to buy me a beer for having the balls to stand up to him."

Tupolo nodded. "Yep, that's Kodiak.

And last but not least Jadis' bit:

The Kodiak conspiracy wrote: “Alright, so Wyatt Cody, until this year, was a thug. Fun enough to hang with, so long as things went his way. Although if he demanded something and someone stood up to him, perversely, he would become friends with them. His best friend is Pendragon, who was his room mate until he got the single in Melville this year. I wasn't here, you understand, but the story goes that some time early on Wyatt wanted to decide the pecking order between himself and Arthur.”

“How did that work out?” She nodded from her sip, as if expecting the question.

“Violently,” Jadis replied. “He told Arthur how things were going to be, Arthur told him what to go do with himself, Wyatt asked if he wanted to put his face where his mouth was, and it was on.” The white haired girl shook her head, causing it to whisper across the shoulder's of her Rogers School Uniform blazer. “I've heard four or five different versions of this fight. They all agree it started in their room in Melville, but someone, accounts differ as to whom, got thrown through the wall and out onto O Henry Hill. The other leaped out in pursuit and they started duking it out, right there on the lawn. Mr. Forest tried to break it up, but he's a base line and both boys were serious by that point. This wasn't horse play anymore. That's when it happened.”

Steve frowned. “What?”

“Mrs. Carson got involved,” Jadis replied. “Swooped in all Lady Astarte, power and the glory and figured that would be enough to stop them. In my tenure here it's the only mistake I've ever heard that she's made. She went in and separated Arthur and Wyatt, but Wyatt had already committed to a swing. Caught her right here,” she said, pointing to where her jaw met her skull, just under her ear.

“Ouch!”

“Accounts differ whether Wyatt only stunned her or whether she was actually knocked out. Either way the fight stopped, and give the big man props, he was instantly contrite that he'd hit a woman.

Is this sufficiently clear?

Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

jmhyp wrote: Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

Because of who he as to face. The Bastard.

Ib12us wrote:

jmhyp wrote: Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

Because of who he as to face. The Bastard.

I'm getting an "he is killed by the Bastard" vibe from the importance. That's why I put the question out there. To see if anyone else was feeling it.

jmhyp wrote:

Ib12us wrote:

jmhyp wrote: Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

Because of who he as to face. The Bastard.

I'm getting an "he is killed by the Bastard" vibe from the importance. That's why I put the question out there. To see if anyone else was feeling it.

I believe if I read the story correctly, we can expect a 'team' and not just him to go after it. Yeah I can dig that vibe, but do you speak jive. ugh I'm glad those days are over.

But seriously I don't think Cody can take on the Bastard himself and thus his need to set up a team or series of teams. I wouldn't think that those that go after it will come back unscratched either.

jmhyp wrote: Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

Well, for one thing, he's covered by an active writer. Therefore, he has to be established as significant and in some way superior to supporting cast such as Hank. It's a narrative thing, same reason Gandlaf didn't just teleport to Mount Doom and drop the ring off, but rather there has to be some handwaved reason why the hobbits had to do it.

FuzzyBoots wrote:

jmhyp wrote: Of course, the question now is: Why is it so important that we know Kodiak is so bad ass?

Well, for one thing, he's covered by an active writer. Therefore, he has to be established as significant and in some way superior to supporting cast such as Hank. It's a narrative thing, same reason Gandlaf didn't just teleport to Mount Doom and drop the ring off, but rather there has to be some handwaved reason why the hobbits had to do it.

Heh, you should see the How It Should Have Ended for Lord of the Rings if you haven't already.

Gandolf: Well, that was easy!
Sam: Can you imagine if we'd WALKED the whole way?
Frodo: Someone could have died! Or, lost a finger!

Would have been a quick story. *waves hand* Nothing to see here. Move along.

Ib12us wrote: But seriously I don't think Cody can take on the Bastard himself and thus his need to set up a team or series of teams. I wouldn't think that those that go after it will come back unscratched either.

Having a team does not automatically prevent the possibility that Cody dies at the hands of the Bastard. I'm postulating that the build of Cody is to make his sudden death at the hands of the Bastard ("The guy who went 10 rounds with Champion as a freshman just one punched by the Bastard!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!")

jmhyp wrote:

Ib12us wrote: But seriously I don't think Cody can take on the Bastard himself and thus his need to set up a team or series of teams. I wouldn't think that those that go after it will come back unscratched either.

Having a team does not automatically prevent the possibility that Cody dies at the hands of the Bastard. I'm postulating that the build of Cody is to make his sudden death at the hands of the Bastard ("The guy who went 10 rounds with Champion as a freshman just one punched by the Bastard!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!")

Nor does it rely on the Kodiak being a brute without a brain. To go up directly against a superior being does not mean that you at like a neanderthal, hence why he's forming a team. Nor am I postulating that none of them can't be hurt. They work as a team, develop a plan and try to execute to the best of their abilities. Nothing is worse than going in blind.

Ib12us wrote:

jmhyp wrote:

Ib12us wrote: But seriously I don't think Cody can take on the Bastard himself and thus his need to set up a team or series of teams. I wouldn't think that those that go after it will come back unscratched either.

Having a team does not automatically prevent the possibility that Cody dies at the hands of the Bastard. I'm postulating that the build of Cody is to make his sudden death at the hands of the Bastard ("The guy who went 10 rounds with Champion as a freshman just one punched by the Bastard!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!")

Nor does it rely on the Kodiak being a brute without a brain. To go up directly against a superior being does not mean that you at like a neanderthal, hence why he's forming a team. Nor am I postulating that none of them can't be hurt. They work as a team, develop a plan and try to execute to the best of their abilities. Nothing is worse than going in blind.

No plan survives encounter with the enemy. No matter how they plan, Cody could find himself solo in front of the Bastard. But there's no point in continued speculation. The stories will come eventually.

The Bastard frowned. "Aunghadhail never told you what happened to my father."

"She told me enough. She told me you had none!"

"No. You are my father."

"No. No. That's not true. That's impossible!"

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOO!"

"Kodiak. You can destroy Lady Astarte. She has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule New Hampshire as Father and Son!"

Kettlekorn wrote: The Bastard frowned. "Aunghadhail never told you what happened to my father."

"She told me enough. She told me you had none!"

"No. You are my father."

"No. No. That's not true. That's impossible!"

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOO!"

"Kodiak. You can destroy Lady Astarte. She has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule New Hampshire as Father and Son!"

Sooo, *waves hand in attempt to distract from all that went before*

OK, my Hank 'Origin' may have gone unnoticed, but for those that haven't looked, Kristin made my story " So Shalt Thou Show Me Friendship " canon, so my 'origin' for Hank becomes canon too.

Have at it, feel free to discuss

And it's a good one. Go read it now if you haven't yet.

Do you have any earlier fan fiction on Hank?

Apparently not? See when I asked him about it here: whateleyacademy.net/index.php/forum/the-...-tradition?start=150

Sprinkled throughout the Micro-Scenes threads where / are some scenes I've written with Hank in them. Quite a few (especially the longer ones) have since ended up being integrated into the main stories.

There is only one other 'Fan Fiction' story I have written, and that's for some ideas for Wondercute that were rejected by canon, but complete enough to make a (very) short story of their own that I shared in the Fan Fiction section.