Protium

Protium, known by his companions as as Protes or P, is a schoolchild cloned sometime in 1998. As the first off the production line, he was given a number, 001, and an element designation, Hydrogen. Since his attempted liquidation, he has since taken the name and identity of one of his attempted murderers, a henchman named Allerdyce Pratchett. For a time, he lived within one of the School's compounds in Orre before orchestrating an escape plan some time in 2021. He and his companions, incidentally all with the same number, live as scavengers in the deserts of Orre.

Appearance

Protium takes on the appearance of an unassuming if emaciated Caucasian male in his late 20s and early 30s, with skin tanned from regular work in the hot sun. He has unkempt strawberry blond medium-length hair and a five o'clock shadow. His choice of clothing comprises a hoodie, torn jeans, and ratty sneakers. His favorite hoodie, however, contains the emblem the Hydrogens adopted for themselves, which represents the structure of their namesake element. His has only one central circle, depicting the very simplified and common isotope he chose as a name. Like many schoolchildren, his true eye color is purple.

History

Early in his life, the Hydrogen of Batch 1998 was noted for his power set, electrokinesis that could mimic the form (if not power) of an electric type. His control of electricity also amplified his own psychic abilities, which would have made him an excellent template for a line of spies. There was just one problem: he was an auric blank, which made him difficult to detect. Deemed too dangerous to be kept alive by the School, he was slated to be terminated.

He narrowly escaped termination by turning the tables on his executioners, who he fed to hungry croconaws. Once he was safe, he impersonated one of the people slated to terminate him. He went through the motions of the minions' life and worked his way up through the ranks. When he noticed a kindred spirit in another Hydrogen he volunteered to work closely with them. He helped her replace a Templar who became the latter's rival. The two would work very closely ever since.

Much later, he and his new friend orchestrated an escape attempt, which let them and another hydrogen escape while doing extensive damage to their records.

Abilities

Protium can generate electricity and, with it, mimic some of the abilities of a magnemite. In addition, he could also create physical and auditory illusions that let him mimic the appearance of other people. Thanks to his sensitivity to electricity, he could read and imitate the subconscious habits of others thanks to his ability to sense signals from a spinal cord. As an auric blank, he could hide from prying psychics. His illusions have their limits; he cannot alter smells, and to ensure the success of his disguises he and his companions must stay fastidiously clean and odorless. He knows how to cook and perform first aid.

Personality

Protium is wary of a lot of people despite his ability to read minds. He prefers that his new family keep their distance from potential threats. Since the escape, he's lived in fear of being captured by The School. Prior, he displayed a lot of cunning and ability to plan ahead in the long run. He deleted key entries surrounding his partner's genome that allowed them to overcome a templar. His long-term plans, however, were largely contingent in their ability to provide for themselves. Faced with the threat of liquidation and now forced to scrounge for their basic needs, Protium relies more on hiding and fleeing.

Despite his edgy appearance, he's quite reluctant to actually harm people outside of being threatened, nor does he especially delight in seeing non-aggressors harmed. He prefers to rely on the environment or Pokémon to do the deed for him. He has the relative emotional maturity of an angsty teen crossed with the skills and sense of responsibility of a parent. He does most of the actual domestic things, if only because he's older and picked up more essential skills over the course of his life.

Trivia

• He is patterned after Charles Xavier's son David Haller, also known as Legion, from the X-Men. His general appearance mimics that of David as he appears in the series Legion.