Art by Mark Williams

Birth Name

Vicky Valentine

Born

October 1, 1980

Abilities

Nexus is able to tap into numerous elemental dimensional planes and can bring forth “pieces” of those dimensions (e.g., throwing fireballs from the plane of fire). By combining different planes, she can effectively “teleport.”

Affiliations

The Gatekeepers, 2005-2009

The Pariah Project, 2009-Present

Biography

Vicky is the daughter of Dane Weatherford, a major figure in an ancient British society known as “The Nexus.” She is the product of this society’s selective breeding program and was meant to be the culmination of the society’s work (though what that truly is remains a mystery). However, at a young age, she escaped the society and grew up in San Francisco. She adopted the name “Nexus” in order to, as she puts it, “just to wind up Daddy.”

Personality

Vicky has a somewhat brash personality, as she finds it difficult to become close to people. She hides behind a wall of snark and aloofness. She has a sarcastic sense of humor and a profound sense of justice.

Excerpt from Redemption

“What else is bothering you?”

I shrugged. “Dana’s injuries.”

“He’ll be fine, luv. Doctors said so.”

“I mean that he got them at all,” I said, glancing over a display of Welsh love spoons. “He’s not like us, Vick. He’s a counselor, not a combat meta. He only came along because I asked him to. I never should have done that.”

“Y’know, he’s a grown man. As much as you like to think he can’t say ‘no’ to you, he bloody well can.”

“Even so,” I said. “The fact remains–“

“The fact remains that I’m right and you need to let it go.”

I scowled at her. “Okay. Fine. But his injuries aren’t the only thing I blame myself for.”

Vicky stopped in her tracks, staring at me. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna mention that Dr. Gray guy again.” My face must have betrayed that I was. “Dyna, why do you cling to things for so long?”

I shrugged and hung my head. “I don’t know.”

“Besides, he deserved what he got!”

I looked up at her. “I don’t think his actions warranted his death.”

“Look. Dr. Gray is no different from Dana.”

“Huh?”

“Dana willingly chose to join you. So any dangers he faced were entirely on him. Not on you. And Gray allied himself with the bad guy. So anything that happened as a result of that was his own damn fault. Not yours.”

I was quiet for some time, looking at the wares on the table in front of me without really seeing them. “I know what you say is technically true,” I finally said.

“But you don’t feel it.” I shook my head and she continued. “So let’s turn this around. If it had been me in that situation, exactly as you were, and my actions resulted in his death, what would you say to me?”

I frowned, “That’s–“

“Just answer me. Would you think it was okay for me to carry that guilt with me for the rest of my life?”

“Well, no, but–“

“But this is you we’re talking about. You hold yourself to a higher standard than me? Dyna, you can’t do that. You’re no less human than I am. Or anyone else. Quit holding yourself apart from us all.”

I frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“Well, it’s what you do,” she said, moving on to the next table. “It’s like you have this wall around yourself. I know you’ve had some hard knocks, but you’ve got to stop being so frightened of being hurt again.”

Her words cut right to the center of things. I averted my gaze and let out a breath. “I know,” I whispered.

“Well, good,” she said. “Okay, we’re buying these.” She held up a pair of knitted slippers that looked like the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.

I laughed. “Yes. Yes, we are.”

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Nexus was co-created by Claudia Silva.