Art by Isikol

Birth Name

“Chip” Tremaine

Born

November 19, 1979

Died

June 20, 2009

Abilities

Transcendant has super-strength, the ability to fly, and is impervious to most forms of harm.

Affiliations

The Empiracles, 1995-2002

The Gatekeepers, 2003-2009

Biography

Originally from New York City, Transcendant moved to San Francisco in 2003 and immediately joined The Gatekeepers, where he served as a Tribune for his last four years. He was consistently voted “Most Handsome Hero” and “Most Popular Hero” by the San Francisco Examiner’s annual poll. He died of a cerebral aneurysm at the age of thirty.

Personality

Unfailingly kind and friendly, Transcendant was the epitome of what people think of as a “heroesque” person. Despite this, and his obviously powerful traits, he could also be incredibly shy, especially around women he found attractive.

Excerpt from Redemption

Transcendant and I sat outside at his favorite coffee shop. I’d met him there at his request, out of uniform.

After the initial pleasantries, I said, “You come here every day? I mean, this is the third time I’ve been here, and you’ve been here each time.”

“Well, not every day,” he said. “But it’s close to my apartment.”

I nodded and sipped my caramel hazelnut latte. “Yum.”

He cleared his throat and said, “You’ve made quite an impression on the team, Dyna.”

I snorted. “Not all of it good, I understand.”

“To those who really matter, it has been.”

 “Well, thanks,” I said, not really believing him, and suspecting that Invictus had put him up to this, as a morale-booster.

“I mean it,” he said. “That business with the creature under the lagoon? That was impressive. No one else would have discovered it.”

“Thanks for being part of it,” I said.

“Of course.” He sipped from his mocha, then said, “So, you’re cured, now?”

I nodded. “Seems so. Feeling better every day.”

“That’s good.” He smiled awkwardly and fidgeted in his seat.

“So what was it you wanted to talk to me about? You sounded – I dunno – a bit odd on the phone.”

To my surprise, his cheeks flushed slightly. “Nothing in particular,” he said. “I was just hoping to get to know you, y’know?”

“Oh,” I said. “Considering nominating me for a Tribune slot?”

“What? No. I mean, sure, I could, but…” He held his mug in front of his mouth, but didn’t drink.

I frowned and stared at him, noticing how nicely he was dressed. And he was acting weird, almost nervous. “Wait,” I said, shocked. “Is this a date?”

He continued to avoid looking at me, his face quite red, now. “Well, I mean, if you want it to be.” He glanced up at me and saw my surprise. “God. I’m sorry. Stupid of me.”

My surprise, however, was mostly at how awkward he was being. This was a guy who could lift a truck and laugh at shotgun blasts. A man with a huge fan base, who’d been featured in every meta publication you could name. And here he was, shy as an awkward kid talking to his grade school crush.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Transcendant was co-created by the late Tre Chipman.