Civilian name: Memory Ashcroft (Though her brother calls her M). Her name was originally Minerva Ashford but she changed it to Memory Ashcroft when she was old enough to do so.
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Alliance: Good (X-men)
Appearance:
Memory is a fun-loving and bubbly 21 year old with a slim figure and flowing brown hair. She stands at 5' 4" and has alluring chocolate brown eyes which you just seem to melt into. There is a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, a twinkle of life shining from her very soul, and a cheeky - and slightly flirtatious smile - on her face almost constantly, though it is mostly an act to bury down the loneliness she feels in her heart. Her skin has a healthy tan and seems to glow when she smiles. There is a scar down her left leg from the car crash that killed her mother when she was 16 and has a tattoo of the word Memory in Japanese on her left wrist.
Personality: Really flirtatious and feisty. Memory's strong willed nature and feisty attitude is what attracts people to her, and her cheerful flirting but that's not the point. Though, it must be admitted, it has come in handy in many situations. She's not even nearly trusting by nature. It's not that she will treat you differently because she doesn't trust you, she'll will just not share important information with you or she'll keep an eye on you when you are doing something shady. That sort of thing. Ok, yeah, she will treat you differently but still.
Since a young age, Memory was taught to think about every decision thoroughly before making a choice by her mother. However, she tries her best to defy this rule as much as possible. Even now she not entirely sure why, she just don't like following the rules that are dictated to her. Probably why she's pretty damn good at hacking, because of her need to be. Which brings us to the next part of her.
Memory's intelligence is astounding. These are not her words so she cannot be accused of being vain or anything. It was her personal tutor that told her after her exams when she got almost full marks for every exam except one which she got just over 4/5. Also, she can be a little cheeky at times and can be very criticising. But she always does it with a smile so that makes it all better, right? Plus she have fairly good acting skills so she can just fake an apology if needs be.
While Memory acts flirtatious, cheeky and just generally fun-loving, there is a painful loneliness deep within that she has been feeling since her mother's death.
Finally, her courage is something that Memory holds dear. Even though her family have been trained to think of the repercussions of their actions before doing anything, Memory has made very split second decisions that has saved one life already. She could have killed herself saving a girl who had fallen on to train tracks at a subway station not long before train was ready to arrive, but her life was greater than Memory's at that point in M's opinion. It was selfless but it is not something she expects to happen often, as much as she'd like it to.
Mutant Classification: Alpha - As Memory not only appears fully human to those around her, but she also has enough control over her ability so as to choose when it is to be used. This advanced control and human appearance allows her to comfortably sit within the Alpha class while her brother lies within in Beta.
Powers and Abilities: As her codename may suggest, Memory's abilities are based primarily on memories. Her main weaknesses are that she must have prolonged skin contact at the temples for most of her powers to work at this stage and that some abilities require a certain state or mind to do. If she does not have this then the power can be a little temperamental.
1. Memory Walking - Memory can not only see but also experience the memories of another. If she is in a place of calm and has skin contact at the temples (unless it is for her own memoires which require only a calm mind) she can let her mind travel into another's and wander around their memories, seeing the scene from every possible angle with every possible detail.
2. Memory altering - She cannot erase memories, but she can suppress and hide away memories in a way similar to her memory defences. This can be used as a last resort move where she will completely suppress every memory that she can within the target's mind temporarily in order to escape though it drains her considerably and she again requires skin contact at the temples. While she cannot erase memories, she can stop someone from ever remembering her if she concentrates very hard. Even if they know she is there, their brain will not want to remember seeing her there and will not look at her no matter what the cost (depends on strength of use with this ability).
3. Memory Implantation - Place a fake memory within someone's head for many reasons. For example, sending yourself into their memories as a loved one or friend to gain information and infiltrate their personal life or the like. Again, requires same kind of skin contact.
4. Memory Defences - Much like an ordinary telepath, Minerva can create mental defences on her own and another's memories, but not the mind itself. She envisions the mind like a never-ending labyrinth or corridors and room, each room containing a different memory. It is merely used as a tool to help her navigate through the mind. Using this same ability Memory could potentially seal off bad memories for another or herself if the situation called for it.
5. Retrocognition (?) - It's not often that this happens, but sometimes when Memory touches an object or person she can get a glimpse at the memories that have attached themselves to it. As of yet, she has never gotten a very clear image, always just a rush of emotions and images, but the ability has been growing.
6. Adoptive Muscle Memory - With this ability, activated through skin contact, Memory can temporarily duplicate the muscle memory of anyone she touches, augmenting her own skill set and techniques to the same as another. For example, she could touch a martial artist and instantly, but temporarily, learn when he/she has learned. While she would be able to put it into practise she would retain the physical capabilities and limitations that she had before. Also, if she were to try and copy the fighting style of someone unpredictable who uses erratic and non-routine fighting then it would be nearly impossible to learn anything as they are constantly changing how they act. While it requires skin contact now and is only temporary this could change as her strength and control grows.
History: Memory Ashcroft, the only child of Olivia Moore and David Ashcroft and half brother to Jonathan Moore whom she is closer to that any other person alive. She actually changed her first name to suit her ability from Minerva to Memory when she was old enough to do so. Up until she was 16, Memory did not even know that Jonathan existed. She had never known her father as he had left them not long after Memory was born. She always learned to fend for herself, becoming quite independent and strong willed, but she had no male figure to look up to. It was only after the car crash that injured Memory and killed her mother that she ever learned of Jonathan. When they finally met, it was not the instant brother-sister bond that she was hoping for. The second she saw him her distrusting nature kicked in her first reaction was to push him away while his was to try and welcome her into his side of the family. It continued like this for just over a year, with the two arguing and fighting constantly. One time Memory actually pushed him out of a first floor window. It was an accident that he went trough the window but she doesn't feel bad.
What really brought them together, as surprising as it might sound, was high school. They had both awakened to their powers by now. Memory had awakened to her own power during the car crash when she tried to check on her mother's condition, as weak as M was. She had touched her mother's head, her fingertips touching the temple, and the fear of her being dead awakened her to her powers. M just managed to catch the last few memories in her mother's mind slip away before her eyes as she fell into the dark abyss that is death. Jonathan had never really been liked for his rather blunt personality at times so he had quite a number of people wanting to deal some serious damage. This he could have handled. The rumour that he, and by association M, were mutants they could not handle.
They were looked down on and treated like scum by the teens, even with no proof. The mere possibility of them being mutants was enough to have them hated and feared by most, even some teachers. They would be abused every single day, treated like scum and assaulted on multiple occasions because of what these people believed.
The turning point in the relationship between these half siblings was shortly after Jonathan had graduated from school and had moved onto university. A bunch of guys from his years had also graduated and seen him one day, taking it as the opportunity it was. They dragged him into a secluded alleyway and started beating him senseless, each taking their turn holding or hitting him. He fought back at first but then he just accepted that there was nothing he could do to save him. M thankfully had been meeting him near there. When she heard his cries of pain, Memory rushed to him only to see the leader of the group drop to the ground. He had tried to cut Jonathan with a switch-blade but had only managed to slice down his hand, which is why he has the scar, and in a moment of panic Jonathan and grabbed the attackers wrist. He died hours later in hospital. Memory had comforted him through this for months, the memory of the killing tormenting his mind. She even tried to suppress the memory for him but only ended up making it worse for him by sending herself into the nightmare. Due to her abilities, she was able to protect herself from the bad memories and fears, becoming immune to his ability when she returned to the waking world - so far the only one who can touch Jonathan's skin without dying.
When rumours spread of them being mutants spread again, they left their home state of Texas and moved up the country. When they heard rumours of a school designed for people like them that wouldn't judge them but help the siblings develop their abilities they jumped at the chance, though tried not to get their hopes up. As it happens, their decision was the right one. They've been there ever since.
Other information: Memory has an unusual fear of Leprechauns. There is no real explanation for it but ever since she was young, Minerva has never been able to look at a Leprechaun without being terrified.