Dr Selena Sullivan

History

• Biography

  (Her background is subject to change given the setting and plot. The only true constants are her medical background and demeanor/belief system; I also have a strong preference for her having healing abilities, but the origins of such are subject to change.
  
  This is simply the most recent version of Selena from a sci-fi forum roleplay board...)
  
  Conception
  Selena's parents met as they attended the same ballroom dance club. Céline Laurent was studying to become a veterinarian, whereas Alexander Sullivan was well into medical school. The two fell in love and, as they grew closer to one another, Céline confessed her abilities, worried she would be rejected. However, he wasn't phased and a year later they wed. They began their careers and, as they sought to start a family, the couple moved to Montana and purchased a country home, where Céline could tend to animals on their personal farm and start her own veterinarian practice. A few years into their marriage, Selena was born. She was a normal if not advanced baby and, by the time she was a toddler, she was already starting to read. After passing the toddler stage, the little girl took interest in the work of her parents, following them closely nearly at all times, and they had little doubt that she would try to follow their footsteps.
  
  Touched by an Angel
  The Kumamoto-born Japanese neighbors of the Sullivans had a son around the same time as Selena and the two had become good friends. When Selena wasn't following her parents and learning everything she could from them or their books, she was playing with her friend. When she was five, the two were out in the woods between their family homes. The boy, in the hopes of showing off to his friend and little crush, started climbing one of their favorite trees and was trying to go higher than they ever had before. While he certainly had, the kid fell and sustained a serious head injury. It was then that Selena's powers ignited and, as their parents came running to the children, they discovered her in a trance-like state and the boy's injuries slowly mending. Within a few hours, he was completely healed, and Alexander ended up determining that if it hadn't of been for Selena, he would have likely died before reaching the distant hospital.
  
  Suffering into Sainthood
  When it came to Selena's power and schooling, her family was quite progressive. The neighbors, grateful for Selena saving the life of their son, never dared tell of her powers. If anything, the families grew closer. It wasn't long after the girl's power emerged that her homeschooling began. There had been some contemplation of allowing her to attend the local school with her friend, however her intellect was far advanced for her age and their home was the perfect environment to help develop her power. Her parents were advanced in their own right and were the perfect mentors for a child who sought their career fields, and their home was miles from others and there were numerous animals who needed tending to. Things went well. Selena was flourishing.
  
  But by the time she turned eight, the idyllic home-life began to change. Selena began frequently falling ill until she had to be hospitalized. When she started to feel better and returned home, it wasn't long before she returned, often worse for wear. It became a pattern. While she kept on her studies and was always eager to advance and learn, her parents eventually surmised the reason for her bouts of illness: her powers. The more she used them, the sicker she became. Alexander stepped down as a physician and turned to clinical research, and he began to focus on trying to learn more about his daughter's abilities and the effects they had on her.
  
  Despite the difficulties, Selena generally retained a positive attitude. If she ever started feeling down or began questioning herself, her friend would help to raise her spirits. He would remind her of what she sought to do. If she was in the hospital, he visited often. And he helped to make her feel normal when she would return home. She became far more devastated at the news he and his family were moving when they were around thirteen than any time she was admitted, but he reassured her they would keep in touch with a promise, in the form of a piece of jewelry and a kiss. Her first.
  
  And as she grew older, her desire to help those in need only increased. She wouldn't let him down, her parents, and, most of all, herself.
  
  Journey of the Archangel
  By the time Selena was fifteen, she had graduated and, after a year of university and taking the mandatory requirements, left for medical school. While quite young, Selena had an exceptional work ethic and stayed on top of her studies. In essence, she was all work and no play. When Selena wasn't attending classes and actively studying, she was involved in community services. While she knew she had to keep her powers under wraps, she would do her best to use them to help those she saw suffering. Her years through medical school went quite smoothly, although she didn't make many if any friends because of her young age and because she was so captivated by her studies. It didn't particularly change after she graduated at twenty-three. She immediately took a job in a Seattle hospital and involved herself deeply into work. She was devoted and her superiors saw her unwavering motivation. Now that she was finally in the work she had desired since she had been a young girl, Selena had to ensure she was careful and balance herself. All she wanted was to work and help as much as she possibly could, but she also needed to avoid crashing her immune system as she did as a girl. After one particularly close call where she nearly died after trying to cure a young patient with a terminal illness, Selena ensured to take a closer look at her limits. She was devastated that she couldn't save every soul, and every death of a patient fell hard on her heart, but it made her all the more determined. Like her father, she began delving into research. What if she could replicate her abilities into technology? Something that wouldn't have her shortcomings? Imagine how many lives could be saved!
  
  Set for the Stars
  It was during the early years of her career that the superpower scandals started coming out. People began to talk about them. Some were being outed. Others were stepping forward. The Sullivan family couldn't help but worry. Where would this lead exactly? But in due time, there was news of the Starbound Initiative. They paid attention, curious where it would lead. Perhaps something good would come out of all of the attention. Perhaps mankind could truly progress. When Astraeus Institute was announced, Selena took a deep breath and quickly stepped forward into the limelight. If there was some way for her to help, she would, as she always strove to do. And so she nervously but willingly joined around when they first opened their doors.
  
  And here she is still.