Editing Weld (section)

==History==
===Background===
Weld was what [[Cauldron]] called a deviation scenario.<ref>5) Did Noelle experience what was called a “Deviation scenario” as was mentioned in 11:7?<br/><br/>[...]<br/><br/>'''Yes and no. Deviation scenarios include Weld and Gully.''' - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/imago-21-1/#comment-17887 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Imago 21.1]]</ref> After he was ejected from their custody he woke up amnesiac in a scrapyard,<ref name="9.1c1">He states in one paragraph, as he contemplates his power, that he was found in dumped in a junkyard, presumably with metal bits stuck to him.<br/><br/>Miss Militia notes in her interlude that he’s a ‘Case 53’, or one of the ones with the tattoos. - 
[https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/cell-9-1/#comment-1588 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Sentinel  9.1]]</ref> his body a fragment consisting of his head and a fragment of his chest.<ref name="14.11IIe1">Armstrong [...] was responsible for rescuing Weld after Weld had been dropped off, an amnesiac with a head and part of a chest, left in a scrapyard. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/06/22 Excerpt] from [[Breaking 14.11]]</ref> There he spent an inordinate amount of time consolidating and separating himself from the metal that had been fused to his body.<ref name="9.1e11">“I appreciate the thought,” he told her.  His physiology had the unfortunate drawback that he couldn’t help but attach to and absorb metal he touched.  While it had been crippling when he’d first been found, dumped in a junkyard, he had learned ways around it.  He could rearrange the metals that formed his body, separate them into their composite elements, and he extended this particular trick to push all the impurities in the metals out to his ‘skin’.  The impurities, unlike the metal that composed the rest of him, didn’t bond, giving him the ability to handle things with his hands and teeth if he needed to.  It didn’t always work – at least once a week there was one embarrassing moments where he bonded with someone’s wedding ring during a handshake or bumped into a shelf display – but it helped.  Clothes helped as well. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/cell-9-1/ Excerpt] from [[Sentinel 9.1]]</ref> It is unknown if this was in Boston, but he would eventually be recruited to the Boston Wards team by [[Director Armstrong]], who became something of a father figure to Weld.<ref name="9.1"/>

Weld was a Boston Ward for two years.<ref name="P.8e1">A two year tenure as a member of the Boston Wards with no offenses or misconduct reported to the media.  He was the third monstrous cape to feature as an actor on a television show, the first to make a second appearance on TV, and the first mutant with an onscreen kiss.  He was the subject of a viral online image, released with various humorous captions, and it was a combination of this and arguably his small-network television appearances that gave him his popularity.  He rode this success to a position as the first monstrous cape to be the team leader of the Wards. - [[Glow-worm P.8]]</ref> At some point, Weld was the subject of an internet meme featuring an image of him with various captions.<ref name="P.8e1"/> He also had something of an acting career during this period.<ref name="P.8e1"/>

Because of his work he was on track to be part of the PRT's push to incorporate more Case 53's into the Protectorate.<ref name="Cast2">'''Weld''' – Once the forerunner of a new phase in the Protectorate’s plan to acclimatize the public to capes, Weld was to be the ‘face’ of the more monstrous or unusual capes, taking over the Wards, with plans to eventually have him lead a city’s Protectorate team.  Left the Wards following the revelations about Eidolon and Alexandria’s involvement with Cauldron.  Now leads the Irregulars.  Weld has metal flesh, a consequence of his ability to absorb metal and incorporate it into his biology.  This renders him nigh-indestructible and gives him basic shapeshifting ability. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/cast-spoiler-free/cast/ Cast (in depth)]</ref><ref name="19.4 c1">Weld was, in his introductory chapter and interlude, mentioned as being the forerunner and point man for the next phase of the PRT’s overarching plan to blend parahumans into society. The test case, if you will. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/scourge-19-4/#comment-11831 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Scourge 19.4]]</ref> He was the third monstrous cape to feature as an actor on a television show, the first to make a second appearance on TV, and the first with an onscreen kiss.<ref name="P.8e1"/>

===Coming to [[Brockton Bay]]===
Weld was deployed to Brockton Bay as part of the response to the Endbringer incursion.<ref name="8.1" /> Here he met Skitter in passing and their lives would continue to intersect well into the future. He teamed up with [[Browbeat]] as part of the plan B response to stall Leviathan.

The aftermath of the attack on Brockton Bay he would see him transferred to the city as the new leader of the local Wards. He would arrive three weeks after the attack having to wrap up personal affairs in Boston.<ref name="9.1c3">'''greatwyrmgold:'''<br/>Why did Weld not stay in Brockton Bay after the Leviathan attack? Was there some ceremonial thing in Boston that needed to be done, or was there a larger skip between arcs than I realized, or what?<br/><br/>'''wildbow:'''<br/>~Three weeks, IIRC.<br/><br/>He needed to wrap things up back home, and he had people (like teammates, Director Armstrong) that he wanted to say goodbye to. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/cell-9-1/#comment-44038 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Sentinel  9.1]]</ref> Though he did not make the best first impression on his new team,<ref name="9.1" /> Weld rapidly proved to be a capable leader,<ref name="9.3">[[Sentinel 9.3]]</ref> even pushing for therapy for his teammates given what they had gone through.<ref name="9.5">[[Sentinel 9.5]]</ref>

Was instrumental in the Protectorate's strategy against the Slaughterhouse Nine, defending his fellow heroes against [[Crawler]] and [[Mannequin]] after a bombing run ordered by [[Director Piggot]].

[[File:Weld.jpg|thumb|left|''<center>Image by [http://pabelandnine.tumblr.com Pabel and Nine]</center>'']]

===Post-[[Slaughterhouse Nine]]===
Weld did not intervene when dragon suits were deployed against the [[Undersiders]].

He was instrumental in repeatedly recovering captured capes out of the new S-Class threat that was released into Brockton Bay. When the extent of Skitter's activities were revealed by [[Chitter]] Weld did not let this dissuade him from his mission. He reported it to [[Miss Militia|his boss]], however.

When [[Ignis Fatuus]] revealed dread secrets at the heart of the Protectorate Weld still kept fighting the aberrations created by the S-Class threat.

===Post-[[Echidna]]===
Weld would form [[The Irregulars]] following the revelations of [[Ignis Fatuus]]. Further he would enter into an alliance with [[Faultline's crew]].

After hearing that an [[Sveta|occupant]] of the [[Parahuman Asylum]] had heard and reacted badly to those same revelations Weld visited and recruited her to his fledgling team.<ref name="27.5" />

===Post-[[Timeskip]]===
His team was invited to [[Cauldron]] meetings where he castigated his former captors.

===[[Gold Morning]]===
Orchestrated one of the only successful invasions of [[Cauldron's Base]], with the aid of some new [[Mantellum|recruits]]. Unlike many of his compatriots he had not fallen to despair enough to think all that he had time to do was take revenge on his [[Doctor Mother|tormentors]] before everyone died at the hands of Zion. With a handful of others Weld fought against former friends in defense of both his principles and the time for needed answers to come to light.<ref name="28.x">[[Cockroaches 28.x (Interlude)]]</ref>

Weld was torn apart more fiercely than ever before yet still survived, unable to stand or move due to the horrific damage inflicted on him.<ref name="29.4">Weld, mangled to the point that he looked more like scrap metal than a person, was heaved forward, thrown to the ground.<br/><br/>A sphere rolled forward.  Something coiled within, behind the colored transparent pane.  Someone in the crowd grabbed it, then made their hands glow.  Fire?  Heating the material?  I couldn’t tell from this distance, but I could see the movement within accelerate in fits and starts.<br/><br/>Weld reached out for the sphere, but his arm was so badly damaged it couldn’t hold his weight.  It bent the wrong way, breaking off.  When he rolled over onto his back, the forearm was stuck to his upper arm, hand to his shoulder and neck.<br/><br/>If he’d been a human, if ''half'' that much damage had been done, there would be no way he’d be alive. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/interlude-27/ Excerpt] from [[Venom 29.4]]</ref>

He helped in the final push, showcasing the extent of his shifting abilities while under the influence of [[Khepri]].<ref name="30.6">He came face to face with the changers.  Wearing his companion’s face.  The face of the alabaster-skinned companion my friends had put together, other faces like them.  Companions that ''could be''.  One metal-skinned boy I’d salvaged from [[Cauldron's Base|the ruins]] of a recent fight had been molded into a steel-skinned companion.  Another was a female mirror of Scion himself, golden skinned.<br><br>He moved to strike out, and I hurried to get them out of the way, using the connections and the forcefields to move them to the safest places I could find. - [[Speck 30.6]]</ref>

===Post-[[Gold Morning]]===
Joined the [[Wardens]] and was given his own squad. Took a vacation with [[Garotte]]. They started a relationship together.<ref>“…And she says she’s his girlfriend,” Kenzie said.<br/><br/>Tristan sighed.  “Yep.”<br/><br/>“She’s living with him, and they sleep in the same bed, and they make each other breakfast,” Kenzie said.<br/><br/>I liked the mental image.  I liked that Sveta was smiling as much as she was. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2017/12/23/flare-2-5/ Excerpt] from [[Flare 2.5]]</ref>

===Post-[[Mathers Compound Assault|Fallen fall]]===
Following the damage that [[The Wardens]] suffered, Weld is being quite overworked.

Brokered monetary assistance from The Wardens to the [[Breakthrough]].<ref>We were talking about money, Sveta talked to Weld and Weld talked to his bosses.  They’re going to see what they can funnel our way.  It won’t be a ton, but it’s going to cover rent.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/07/28/beacon-8-8/ Excerpt] from [[Flare 2.5]]</ref>

He was mobilized during the African crisis.<ref>[[Polarize 10.10]]</ref>

===Post-[[Goddess' Takeover]]===
Returned from the battlefield

Confided in Victoria that he was having problems with his relationship with Sveta.

===Post-[[Time Bubble Pop]]===
He broke up with Sveta in part due to the manipulations of [[Teacher|Teacher's]] group.

===Post-[[Attack on Teacher]]===
Weld accompanied [[Sveta]] during [[The Second Shin Crisis]].<ref name="II17.7">[[Sundown 17.7]]</ref>

===[[The Ice Breaks]]===
As the rest of [[Wardens]] he was mobilized against the [[Titans]].

Weld helped to arrange emergency testing of [[Case 53]]s.<ref name="II19.a">[[Infrared 19.a]]</ref>

He appeared in a support role during the defense of [[the Shardspace]] entry-point, helping other people move around and recover wounded.<ref name="moverrespec">Weld was too small to play the brute, and Titan Skadi hit hard enough that a man made of solid metal wouldn’t necessarily survive what she did, so he’d ‘welded’ limb extensions on, metal arms and legs that he could use to move faster and scoop up anyone in danger. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/12/24/infrared-19-1/ Excerpt] from [[Infrared 19.1]]</ref>

Weld attempted to control the Neo-[[Irregulars]] group of [[Case 53]]s on the benefit of [[The Wardens]].<ref>“On the down-low,” Sveta said, leaning in closer, until our heads were almost touching.  “Weld is pretending to be mad at me.”<br/><br/>“Pretending why?” I asked.  Tristan looked equally curious.<br/><br/>“Heavy stuff that happened once.  Information I didn’t pass him, before the Irregulars went bad.  It came up in the moment, he acted like it was a surprise.  To open a way to communicate with the case fifty-threes.  Get them on board, when they might have run for it otherwise.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/01/04/infrared-19-3/ Excerpt] from [[Infrared 19.3]]</ref> He deployed together with them, [[Faultline’s Crew]], and [[Breakthrough]] against [[Titan Fortuna]].