Shift |
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Portrayed by Djimon Hounsou |
Statistics |
Full Name |
Kwabena Odame |
Age |
33 |
Height |
5'11" |
Build |
Lean and athletic |
Eyes |
Silver |
Hair |
Black |
Factions |
To be determined. |
Occupation |
Mercenary |
Alignment |
Neutral |
Claim to Fame
A Ghanian mutant who can transform into various states of matter. He's not the kind of guy you want on your bad side, but he doesn't always make the best ally, either.
Reputation
Outside of the criminal underworld, not much is known about Shift. At least, not yet. Within the criminal underworld, he is known to be ruthless, efficient, thorough, and loyal as hell so long as you're up front and honest. He'll work for a good price or a 'good cause', and rumor has it he has a penchant for taking out anti-metahuman types. It is said that no one has ever double crossed him and lived… but rumors are fickle things.
Biography
Kwabena Odame was born in his native country of Ghana. When his X-Gene manifested, his family considered it something of a disgrace, calling him a demon child. They took him to Accra at once and submitted him to the state for foster care. He grew up as a ward of the church, and eventually had the opportunity to go to America for a higher education.
He wound up in the Midwest, attending the University of Cincinnati, where he began to run with a tough crowd. Cincinnati was not the friendliest place to 'Super-Humans', and helped him to develop a particular disgust with the fearful, hate-filled sect that ran so heavily in the Queen City. During the 2001 race riots, in a fit of misguided youth, he murdered half a dozen police officers who were, as he viewed it, brutalizing his black brothers, and that act opened a window to the criminal world.
He's lived in cities across the U.S., working odd jobs that blur the lines between questionable and down right felonious, but there has always been two constants. Shift takes the jobs that punish those against metahuman equality, and he takes the jobs that pay him a decent salary while keeping him off the grid.
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Character Details
At first glance, Kwabena can seem very standoffish. However, once you break the ice, you'll find him to be surprisingly friendly, if not a bit superficial. He's not a terribly mean person, and if one were to break through his layers of distrust, he might make a very loyal friend. Arms length, however, is the name of his game.
Mutant Power: Matter Phase Shift |
Kwabena's X-Gene causes am instinctive shift in the constitution of his body's matter. The changes are triggered by severe emotions and the body's instinctive reaction to lethal injury. With practice and self awareness, Kwabena has learned to control these changes. If not controlled, it can yield unpredictable results. |
Mutant Power: Hardened Phase |
Shift can transform his body into a state of matter that is significantly harder than flesh and bone. This ability can be used as a weapon or shield, or even an immobilized object. Excessive use of this power can throw him into an uncontrollable rage, and there are other risks. While he can use this power to prevent himself from turning into smoke form upon encountering lethal force, failure to do so can cause him to revert to smoke form. |
Limitation: Theoretically, Shift could attain ultimate hardness equivalent to that of adamantium. However, his body functions would shut down, and it's impossible to determine if he would survive. Typically, his hardness is peaked around the level of super-reinforced steel or Kevlar, and even at those levels it is difficult to maintain. |
Mutant Power: Liquid Phase |
Shift can transform his body into a liquid state, which can essentially disappear into bodies of water and other liquids. This allows him to 'swim' into certain deadly substances, such as acids or other caustic substances. Extremely hot or cold liquids, such as volcanic magma or liquid nitrogen, pose a severe risk of killing him. In this form, he can move at twice his running speed, though currents can greatly affect this. |
Mutant Power: Plasma Phase |
Shift can transform from smoke phase to a state of living plasma. It is extremely difficult to accomplish, but made significantly easier if he encounters deadly levels of energy, radiation or heat. This state is extremely destructive and makes him virtually invincible, but exposes him to the risk of losing molecular cohesion. In addition, it requires a constant amount of 'fuel' to maintain, and is replenished by the materials that are demolished by contact. This poses further risk, for while absorbing organic material is ideal, absorbing heavy metals can be dangerous and leave side effects (e.g. lead poisoning). Absorbing 'good' material does serve as a healing agent, and can technically be used to heal wounds, exhaustion, and dismemberment. If he isn't able to replenish, he may reform missing mass and suffering from malnourishment. |
Limitation: Theoretically, Shift could burn as hot as a star. However, at approximately 25,000° Celsius (the average temperature of a plasma cutting tool), the fuel consumption ratio cannot maintain these temperatures, and he begins to eat into his own life energy. Without some kind of super-human energy influence, he will burn out within minutes, and the longer he pushes himself, he can risk permanent injury or death. |
Hard Counter: Shift's Plasma Phase can be directly contained, suffocated or even expanded by those with electromagnetic manipulation abilities. Other super-solid materials, such as adamantium, are able to resist its destructive power. Alien materials or super-strong bodies (e.g. Kryptonians) can also resist it. |
Time Limits: Without fuel, he can burn for three minutes. With clean fuel (water, organic material such as wood, vegetation, animal flesh), up to 15 minutes. With dirty fuel (stone, dirt, manufactured compounds) it ranges from 5-7 minutes. Augmentation by energy-wielding characters is contingent on the type and power of energy directed at him. |
Mutant Power: Smoke Phase |
Shift can transform his body into a gaseous state that manifests as a thick, black smoke. In this state, he can move about at his normal running speed, and can carry up to three smaller objects with him. With a clear mind and high level of focus, he can control the density of this state, going so far as to thin himself out and become invisible. He cannot maintain this form for extended periods of time, and while he's nigh invincible to physical attack, energy weapons are something of a weakness, either forcing him to attain plasma phase or losing those parts of his body instead. |
Ability: Aerobatics |
By harnessing his gaseous phase, Kwabena can perform aerobatic feats. This is accomplished by rapidly changing to and from his solid state, using other solid surfaces and the laws of physics to perform these maneuvers. The speed at which he can travel through the air is directly affected by such laws of physics, and can be further aided or hindered by wind speed and patterns. In stagnant air, he can move about as fast as his running speed. |
Ability: Size Shift |
Shift can manipulate his own molecular density, causing him to grow or shrink in size and density, conversely. This ability only applies to his normal, flesh-and-bone state, and his hardened state. He can grow up to twice his size in height, and can shrink down to one quarter his normal size without external influence. |
Skill: Mercenary |
Shift has run with mercenaries, and he's done countless jobs. He may not be the best at what he does, but he certainly finds a way to get the job done. Because of his experience, he has a solid knowledge of modern weaponry and explosives, along with tracking methods, police procedure, high profile vehicle operation and lock picking. This also gives him a solid understanding of the way things work in the criminal underworld. |
Skill: Self-Education |
When there is a hole in Kwabena's knowledge base, he seeks to fill it. He is a very quick learner and has learned methods of gathering information he needs quickly and accurately. While this skill will never create an expert out of him in any particular subject, give him 24 to 48 hours and he'll at least have a strong working knowledge of the basics. |
Feared Name |
Kwabena Odame and his code name 'Shift' are both feared among many rings throughout the criminal underworld. He's rumored to be an 'invincible man', one you simply do not double cross or betray if you don't want to see your world destroyed. He's also known to be a valuable asset if he's treated (re: compensated) well. This gives him a significant advantage when dealing with the underworld. |
Underworld |
Shift has contacts in the criminal underworld across the U.S., many of them under a variety of aliases. He knows how to work into and out of the system, and he knows how to work the system itself. Using his contacts, he can usually get what he needs. If not, he can probably beat it out of someone. |
Uniform |
Shift is in possession of a high tech uniform made of unstable molecules. This uniform mimics his matter phase changes, saving him from embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions. It also contains a specially designed utility belt, with pouches that make it much easier for him to 'hold' items while shifting. It's hood also serves to equalize his senses, which are normally dulled or enhanced based on which form he adopts. |
Off The Grid |
Shift lives an off the grid lifestyle. There are no bank accounts, credit cards, leases or purchase contracts under that name, which can often make it difficult to 'get shit done'. He's always rocking cash only, which is easy to lose when transforming into smoke, and anything official always runs through a false ID. Damn obstacles. |
Reputation |
Depending on which underworld circle your run in, there may be a stigma attached to Shift. He's a punk, an addict, a junkie, a manwhore… the list goes on, regardless of whether they are true or not. More severely, there are many who want him dead, and some have the money to put behind it. |
Wanted |
As 'Shift', Kwabena is wanted by law enforcement agencies in a number of cities, and has pegged some flags on Federal watch lists such as those run by the FBI. His code name and masked identity can be a liability, and he has a very hard time keeping it separate from his real name of Kwabena Odame, due to the brash decisions of his youth. |
Addict |
Kwabena has made some mistakes in his youth, not the least of which involved his experimentation with hard narcotics. He is a smoker, he drinks too much, and with the right prompting, he could suffer a relapse. Hard narcotics can have affects on his mutant powers, and most of them are not good. |
Killer |
Kwabena has killed before and he'll do it again. It has created a coldness in his soul, but his killings are, at least to him, justified. Deep down, however, some of those kills haunt him in the night, especially those that might have been avoided, or those he made in cold blood. |
Loose Cannon |
Shift tends to be a loose cannon, which stems from a 'do-it-yourself' mentality he has developed. It can make it difficult for him to work well on a team, especially when his crazy ideas work so damn well (or not). |
Trust Issues |
Kwabena does not trust easily, nor does he trust quickly. It is terrible for making friends, and is deeply rooted in spending much of his adult life being a liar, criminal, and hired gun. |
Relationships
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Aspect |
Contact |
Don't know much about this guy, but he's talented, possibly metahuman, and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Black Widow |
SHIELD |
Not sure whether she's a pain in my ass, or keeping me out of Federal prison. Probably both. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Bruce Banner |
Contact |
Smart guy. Holds a PhD. Also changes into a big, scary monster when he's pissed. Tread carefully. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Captain America |
SHIELD |
Hired me for a SHIELD op once. Pretty much a polar opposite, but he found me, which is saying something. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Darcy Lewis |
Cute girl |
Roller girl. 'Sass Mastah'. Seems to have a crush on me. And everyone else. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Daredevil |
Vigilante |
Daredevil's turf is Hell's Kitchen. He owes me a favor or two. Feeling is probably mutual. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Emma Frost |
Contractor |
I don't really know who this is, but he/she/it hires me for jobs from time to time. Also, a fucking telepath. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Jackie Estacado |
Mob boss |
Former hitman and mob boss. Got a working relationship with him, but I'll never get in his bad side. Damn. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Melody |
Girlfriend (?) |
We haven't had "the discussion" yet, but all signs point to Match Made in Hell. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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Midnighter |
Soldier |
Soldier, Black Ops type. Works for The Weatherman. Can't trust this guy worth shit, but he's interested in wiping out the smooth, so he's good. For now. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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U. Samuel Kathman, Esq. |
Attorney |
My contingency plan. Got him on retainer, and is privy to virtually everything I do. Helps me around legal problems, sometimes makes me eat falafel. Good drinking buddy, scores great ganja. |
Image |
Name |
Relation |
Notes |
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The Weatherman |
Government |
Government type, Black Ops. Can't trust her, but she's thrown resources and money my way. Got to wonder what her end game is, because I fucking guarantee she's got one. |
Theme Music
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" by Kendrick Lamar (explicit)
Character Gallery
Logs
Smoothgasbord
March 31, 2015: A twisted conspiracy ends up pitting a NYC gang against a mob of mutants in a bloody, racist confrontation over an incoming shipment of Smooth. The altercation brings different vigilantes together, but the end result is a tragedy of its own right, and a victory for HYDRA. (Vulgarity, racism, gruesome violence, drugs)
(log: 20150331-smoothgasbord | tags: eventide hydra kane-reynard nyssa_al_ghul shift spearhead the-smooth winter_soldier | posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:25)
Good Shift, Bad Shift
March 28, 2015: Lunair, who's been trying to track down Shift, manages to see his transformation up close and personal. Two Spider-folk happen to get drug in as well, because familiarity is a b.
(log: 20150328-good-shift-bad-shift | tags: gwen lunair nyc shift spider-man the-smooth | posted: 29 Mar 2015 15:25)
Talk to The Hand
March 23, 2015: The Hand attempt to attack members of Umoja international and several heroes rush in to the rescue! (Emits by Morien/Ozymandias)
(log: 20150323-talk-to-the-hand | tags: gwen iceman kamala-khan martian-manhunter ms-marvel ms._marvel nyx ozymandias rocket_red_iv shift | posted: 24 Mar 2015 23:02)
Drive-by at Mutattoo
March 21, 2015: An attempted drive-by shooting at Mutattoo brings two spiderfolk, a Hawkeye, and an X-Man together. Turns out the smooth is back on the streets, and something is terribly wrong with the mercenary, Shift.
(log: 20150321-drive-by-at-mutattoo | tags: gwen hawkeye_ii hydra lunair shift spider-man the-smooth | posted: 22 Mar 2015 20:17)
Demolir L'empire - Part 3
March 19, 2015: Shift awakens to face his captors. The arcane is involved to transform him into a wicked, brainwashed agent of HYDRA.
(log: 20150319-demolir-l-empire-3 | tags: hydra shift | posted: 20 Mar 2015 00:58)
Demolir L'empire - Part 2
March 16, 2015: Shift makes his final move against Richard Dackleman, but there is an unexpected surprise in store for him. (graphic content)
(log: 20150316-demolir-l-empire-2 | tags: hydra shift the-smooth | posted: 17 Mar 2015 16:23)
Sins of the Future #10: Endgame
???? ?? ??: Rachel Summers convinces a small group of X-Men including Lunair, Audrey & Nate Grey to accompany her on a 'sanctioned' mission. The mutant mercenary Shift is also hired to accompany them as backup.
They begin a desperate assault on the military base in the Pacific the X-Men had formerly been to in a mission, destroying it once and for all.
All traces of Project: Centurion are eliminated. The Mission is a Success.
(log: 20150315-endgame | tags: lunair lux marvel-girl shift sinsofthefuture x-man x-men | posted: 15 Mar 2015 23:38)
Demolir L'empire - Part 1
March 14, 2015: Having finally tracked down his nemesis, Richard Dackleman, Shift arrived in Paris. Posing as a tourist, he prepares to take down the smooth boss once and for all.
(log: 20150314-demolir-l-empire-1 | tags: shift the-smooth | posted: 15 Mar 2015 03:02)
Hookers and Blow, with a Dash of Serb
March 13, 2015: Shift takes Partisan up on an offer to drink hard liquor at her secret lair. Jericho shows up and the conversation gets… interesting. (Much vulgarity and drug references)
(log: 20150313-hookers-and-blow-with-a-dash-of-serb | tags: aspect partisan shift the-smooth | posted: 14 Mar 2015 14:54)
Not Going Smoothly
March 12 2015: In the aftermath of the raid on the Ironworks, Shift interrogates a Triad leader with May's help much to Jericho's amusement.
(log: 20150312-not-going-smoothly | tags: aspect shift smooth the_cavalry | posted: 13 Mar 2015 11:37)
Drug Bust At The Ironworks
March 8, 2015: Jericho, Zee, Jesana, Dinah, Shift, Rain, Misfit, Spearhead and May attack the Gotham Ironworks and get more than they bargained for.
(log: 20150308-drugbustironworks | tags: aspect black_canary coyote misfit rain shift spearhead the_calvary zatanna | posted: 13 Mar 2015 21:32)
No 'Friends' of Mine
March 05 2015: A Purifier mob rolls into M-Town to bust and burn the place. A group of X-Men, Mutants and Concerned Citizens stop them.
(log: 20150305-no-friends-of-mine | tags: iceman longshot marvel-girl mystique partisan pepper_potts shift | posted: 06 Mar 2015 11:05)
Hypotheticals
February 24, 2015: Kwabena manages to track down, with Rant's help, the thief who recently stole the pot at Two-Face's Double Down club.
(log: 20150224-hypotheticals | tags: black_cat nyc rant shift | posted: 25 Feb 2015 12:39)
Kwabena's Holocaust
February 23, 2015: Kwabena has a meltdown.
(log: 20150223-kwabenasholocaust | tags: gotham rant shift | posted: 24 Feb 2015 02:35)
Chains and Ice Cream
February 22, 2015: In the wake of so much violence, the Tin Roof reopens. Behind closed doors, more devious plans are made to secure The Woman's grip on the East End.
(log: 20150222-chains-and-ice-cream | tags: catwoman east-end fantomex gotham rant shift | posted: 23 Feb 2015 14:48)
The Double Down Club
February 17, 2015: Gangs, assassination, cage fights, thievery. Just another day in Gotham (NSFW racial languages, death, blood and gore, ton'o swearing)
(log: 20150217-thedoubledownclub | tags: black_cat bluebird gotham shift twoface | posted: 18 Feb 2015 05:31)
Turf Wars
January 30th, 2015: Some late night strollers are engulfed in a turf war battle in Gotham.
(log: 20150130-turf-wars | tags: ozymandias rant shift talia_al'ghul | posted: 03 Feb 2015 01:00)
Elijah's Mantle, Part 5
January 24, 2015: SHIELD races to the Arctic to attempt to catch HYDRA before they take Skull's body
(log: 20150124-elijah-s-mantle-part-5 | tags: beast black_widow captain_america emmett_argyle maria_hill midnighter shift witchblade | posted: 25 Jan 2015 02:17)
Once Upon A Midnight Dreary
January 17, 2015: An old acquaintance makes his re-appearance as another dies. Let the shit hit the fan.
(log: 20150117-once-upon-a-midnight-dreary | tags: catwoman east-end gambit gotham rant shift | posted: 18 Jan 2015 04:28)
Shifting Sands
January 15 2015: Aspect goes looking for magic. He finds Shift in the Dark.
(log: 20150115-shifting-sands | tags: aspect k'nert shift | posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:50)
Hacking, Magic and Drugs
October 14 2014: Rant stops by Jericho and Illyana's place. Shift is by shortly thereafter.
(log: 20141014-hacking-magic-and-drugs | tags: aspect k'nert magik rant shift | posted: 22 Oct 2014 11:59)
The Smooth: Chopping Sticks
September 29, 2014: A debrief after the operation in Alliance. Of sorts.
(log: 20140929-the-smooth-chopping-sticks | tags: corvinus gotham midnighter shift stw the-smooth the-wall | posted: 30 Sep 2014 04:42)
The Smooth: Alliance
September 28, 2014: A leader of the Odessa Mob has made for Alliance, Ohio, in an effort to evacuate the people responsible for creating the smooth. They've been tracked.
(log: 20140928-the-smooth-alliance | tags: batwoman corvinus darkness huntress lunair midnighter rant shift stw the-smooth | posted: 28 Sep 2014 22:19)
The Smooth: "Gangland"
September 27, 2014: A coordinated assault on three fronts against organizations involved in trafficking the smooth. The ultimate goal - to put a serious damper on the trafficking operations, and locate the source.
(log: 20140927-the-smooth-gangland | tags: aspect green_arrow huntress midnighter rant shift stw the-smooth the-wall vorpal | posted: 24 Sep 2014 00:06)
A Shaky Alliance
September 20th, 2014: Midnighter and Shift follow a false lead planted by The Wall.
(log: 20140920-the-smooth:a-shaky-alliance | tags: gotham midnighter shift stw the-smooth the-wall | posted: 21 Sep 2014 03:13)
The Smooth: Truck Bomb!
September 18, 2014: While staking out an Odessa Mob operation, Shift meets Helena Bertinelli. The stakeout takes a turn, bringing Shift and Aspect together.
(log: 20140918-the-smooth-truck-bomb | tags: aspect gotham huntress shift the-smooth | posted: 18 Sep 2014 22:03)
Promises That Keep
September 16, 2014: Two women are hunting Kwabena, both for different reasons. Both end up at his studio apartment, and some mysteries become answers. Sort of.
(log: 20140916-promises-that-keep | tags: catwoman rant shift the-smooth | posted: 17 Sep 2014 13:10)
Afterglow and General Tso
September 12, 2014: Melody and Kwabena spend a day together, a time where they become quite honest with each other. Warning: plenty of mushy crap ahead.
(log: 20140913-afterglow-and-general-tso | tags: rant shift | posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:37)
Where Do We Begin?
September 12, 2014: Whether Shift slept or not is debatable. He's fixed Melody's house up, and he's made breakfast. What comes next may be a surprise to them both.
(log: 20140912-where-do-we-begin | tags: rant shift | posted: 13 Sep 2014 19:32)
MTown Riot
September 12 2014: A protest in M-Town goes from bad to worse
(log: 20140912-mtown-riot | tags: columbia deadzone iceman lunair magneto nyc shift | posted: 13 Sep 2014 20:09)
Long Long Way to Go
September 11, 2014: Troubled by his actions in Battergate, Shift receives a call for help from Rant. If there's one thing a recovering addict knows, it's how to help someone suffering withdrawal.
(log: 20140911-long-long-way-to-go | tags: rant shift the-smooth | posted: 12 Sep 2014 15:20)
The Smooth: Thug Hunting
September 10, 2014: Dackleman's goons seem to be one step ahead of Shift and Jackie. A different hunting method is clearly required. (vulgarity, graphic violence)
(log: 20140910-the-smooth-thug-hunting | tags: darkness gotham shift the-smooth | posted: 11 Sep 2014 14:02)
The Smooth: Battergate
September 6, 2014: Rant and Shift both have business to take care of in Battergate. Rant happens to be hunting Shift, thinking he's someone else… but a mysterious third party seems to be hunting them both. (heavy vulgarity, dark themes)
(log: 20140906-the-smooth-battergate | tags: cemetery rant shift the-smooth | posted: 07 Sep 2014 23:12)
Smoothing Things Over
September 2 2014: Kwabena returns to M-Town, determined to do something about the Smooth.
(log: 20140902-smoothing-things-over | tags: darkness iceman metal shift the-smooth | posted: 03 Sep 2014 21:39)
Sunday Morning
August 31, 2014: What does Kwabena do after getting Hulk-flicked into the East River? Drag his busted ass to Darcy's apartment, of course. (Vulgarity)
(log: 20140831-sunday-morning | tags: darce shift | posted: 03 Sep 2014 11:17)
Hangover City (mild language warning)
August 30, 2014: Having been called the night before to help take care of a very drunk Darcy, Nancy gets to know the person she was caring for all night.
(log: 20140830-hangover-city | tags: darce deadzone shift | posted: 30 Aug 2014 22:09)
Burning Human '14: Part 2
August 30, 2014: The Burning Human Festival has gone mostly peacefully. That ends tonight.
(log: 20140830-burning-human-14:part-2 | tags: burning_human colossus daredevil hulk iceman loki lunair metal shift skaar the-smooth | posted: 01 Sep 2014 03:25)
Smoke Ice and Sass
August 29 2014: Darcy Lewis, Bobby Drake and Shift share a few drinks at the Burning Human Festival
(log: 20140829-smoke-ice-and-sass | tags: darce iceman shift | posted: 30 Aug 2014 11:01)
The Smooth: Addicted
August 22, 2014: Catwoman comes to Rant's rescue, but not before Dackleman's thugs deliver a crippling blow in their efforts to extort her talents.
(log: 20140822-the-smooth-addicted | tags: catwoman darkness rant shift the-smooth | posted: 29 Aug 2014 07:18)
The Smooth: Rantnapped!
August 21, 2014: Dackleman's hitmen, Cracklin' and Dobbs, set up and carry out an attempt to kidnap Melody from her own place of business in NYC.
(log: 20140821-the-smooth-rantnapped | tags: rant shift the-smooth | posted: 29 Aug 2014 07:07)
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