Editing Brian Laborn (section)

== History ==
===Background===
Brian was born in June 1993.<ref name="age" />

Grue was abused by his mother's boyfriend when he was young, and fought to develop the strength and fortitude to never be that weak again. After going to help his sister deal with the same man at his mother's house, he was brought back to his weakest, darkest moment as he dealt with his mother's boyfriend. With the man's eyes on him, he found the power to immerse the world in darkness. The combination of the environment, malign attention, and the desire to protect his sister all factored into his power being what it was.<ref name="reddit1">Grue was abused by his mother's boyfriend when he was young, and fought to develop the strength and fortitude to never be that weak again. To go to help his sister with the same man, and to see the house and be brought back to his weakest, darkest moment, the man's eyes on him, he found the power to immerse the world in darkness. Environment and malign attention and the desire to protect his sister all factored into his power being what it was. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/3mwtd0/_/cvixvdc Comment by Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>

Brian was active as the solo super-villain Grue for two years,<ref name="4.2" /><ref name="2.2 e1">I looked up Grue.  There was actually information about him, but nothing detailed or definitive.  The wiki stated he had been active for nearly three years, dealing in petty crimes such as robbing small stores and doing some work as an enforcer for those who wanted a little superpowered muscle along for a job.  Recently, he had turned to higher scale crime, including corporate theft and robbing a casino, together with his new team.  His power was listed as darkness generation in the sidebar under his picture.  The picture seemed crisp enough, but the focus of it, Grue, was just a blurry black silhouette in the center.<br>[...]<br>The sightings and encounters with the homeless girl ended around a year ago – I figured that was when she joined forces with Grue, Tattletale and Regent. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/07/09 Excerpt] from [[Insinuation 2.2]]</ref> he was primarily active outside [[Brockton Bay]].<ref>I was remembering right, both Grue and Hellhound had lived in different cities prior to teaming up and setting roots in Brockton Bay. - [[Insinuation 2.5]]</ref> He started out committing petty crimes, and acting as an enforcer for others, slowly scaling up over time.<ref name="2.2 e1"/><ref name="SV1" /> During this phase of his career, Brian learned about the importance of reputation. Choosing the name Grue due to its obscure etymology, he did so with the presumption that the alias would attract a more sophisticated clientele.<ref name="SV2" /><ref name="4.2 e77">“You and Brian are similar, but I wouldn’t say he’s cautious.  He’s… pragmatic.  You both are.  The difference between you two is that he’s been doing what he does for three years, now.  Two years of experience, before he joined the group.  So a lot of what he does is automatic.  He doesn’t give a second thought to the little things he’s done dozens of times already.  He takes a lot for granted.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/shell-4-2/ Excerpt] from [[Shell 4.2]]</ref><!---or so about things where how long his career was - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/imago-21-6/ Excerpt] from --->

During this time Brian met [[The Adepts]], and by extension [[Epoch]]. From this encounter, Brian discovered a deep hatred for people whose powers messed with time.<ref name="reddit2">[[Epoch|he's]] leader of a gang in one of the most competitive areas for capes and gangs in America, and is incidentally the reason Grue comments about how much he hates time travel. - [https://redd.it/2fbpza Comment by wildbow on Reddit]</ref>

He was eventually collected by [[Coil]] along with the other[[The Undersiders| Undersiders]] and persuaded to form a team with them<ref>[[Interlude 8.y]]</ref> around a year before the beginning of [[Worm]].<ref name="2.2 e1"/> With them, he began committing higher-profile robberies.<ref name="2.2 e1"/>

At some point, he was shot in the stomach with [[Shadow Stalker]]'s crossbow bolt<ref>[[Cockroaches 28.4]]</ref> and bled all over the Undersiders' couch.<ref name="2.7">[[Insinuation 2.7]]</ref>

===Story Start===
Coming off a successful robbery of the [[Ruby Dreams]] casino several weeks ago,<ref name="I3 e2">“The Undersiders.  They’ve flown under the radar so far, but more recently, they’ve started pulling higher profile jobs.  They hit the Ruby Dreams casino five weeks ago, and now they just robbed the biggest bank in Brockton Bay.  This time we were lucky enough to get in their way.  That means we finally have intel on their group.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/interlude-3-2/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 3]]</ref> they ran into a new bug-themed super-villainess. Saving the villain from Lung, they were able to quickly make their escape before Armsmaster arrived on the scene. he had been a supervillain for three years by that point.<ref name="4.2 e77"/>

They would meet up with the villain later in civilian garb to recruit her to the Undersiders. They were successful and [[Taylor]] joined the team. 

After Rachel attacked Taylor in an attempt to test her and possibly drive her off, Brian stepped in to stop things from going to far. He admitted to Taylor he would much rather have her on the team than Rachel but that his hands were tied.

He was devastated to learn that his teammate and closest confidant on team was a hero who had been planning to betray them.

===Post-[[Battle against Leviathan|Leviathan]]===
Weeks later, with his sister now a member of the Undersiders, Grue was forced to let Skitter back into the Team.
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===Post-[[Slaughterhouse Nine]]===
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===Post-[[Battle against Echidna|Echidna]]===
Was comfortable with not resuming his role as the Undersiders leader.

Deployed to [[New Delhi]] with the rest of the Undersiders.

===Post-[[Timeskip]]===
Settled back into his role as leader of the Undersiders. He also met and started a relationship with [[Cozen]].

===[[Gold Morning]]===
Grue was convinced by Weaver to join the [[Oil-rig battle]] where he attempted to use his darkness to copy Scion's powers. When he failed to copy them he copied Legend's powers instead and helped fight Scion before retreating with the other fighters back to the oil-rig. Scion appeared overhead and destroyed the oil-rig, killing Grue among several other heroes and villains.<ref name="e.x">[[Interlude: End]]</ref>

===[[Ward]]===
Grue was resurrected by [[Valkyrie]] and became a part of her [[The Flock|Flock]].<ref name="15.zII"/> It was an unlikely choice, but Brian had proven himself enough during his time as a shade.<ref>Valkyrie had confessed that she didn’t want to make him a member of her Flock.  Only his performance, ability to follow orders, and his no-nonsense attitude had changed her mind.  He had ceased being a shadow and became a man again. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/02/18/infrared-19-g/ Excerpt] from [[Infrared 19.g]]</ref>

===Post-[[Time Bubble Pop]]===
Grue participated in the battle against [[Teacher]] alongside the rest of his team. He fought [[Spawner]] and other [[Ingenue]]'s goons, and was critical in protecting [[Valkyrie]].<ref name="15.zII">[[Interlude 15.z II|Interlude 15.z]]</ref>

He remained in Valkyrie's team, while other members of the flock were returning to their old teams.<ref name="II19.f"/>

===[[The Ice Breaks]]===
Grue saved Valkyrie from being finished off by [[Auger]]. He was able to partially block the titans power and force him away, with unforeseen consequences.<ref name="II18.z">[[Radiation 18.z]]</ref>

Following [[Valkyrie]]'s [[titan]]ification he returned to [[The Undersiders]] and helped to deal with the [[Lookout]]'s freak out<ref name="II19.f">[[Infrared 19.f]]</ref> by quarantining her power and keeping her company later.<ref name="II19.g">[[Infrared 19.g]]</ref>

Grue helped [[Antares]] to reach and re-align [[The Mathers Giant]],<ref name="II20.5">[[Last 20.5]]</ref> and hid [[Dinah Alcott]] from [[the Simurgh]].<ref name="II20.6">[[Last 20.6]]</ref>