Shadow Stalker
<infobox> <title source="name"><default>Shadow Stalker</default></title>
<image source="Image"></image> <image source="image"></image> <group><header>Basic Information</header> <label>Civilian Name</label> <label>Aliases</label> <label>Gender</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Death</label> <label>Age</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Post-timeskip</label> <label>Ward start</label> <label>Relations</label> <label>Family</label></group> <group><header>Professional Status</header> <label>Occupation</label> <label>Classification</label> <label>Unique Features</label> <label>Alignment</label>
<label>Status</label><format><label>Location</label> <label>Teams</label> <label>Previous Team(s)</label> <label>Base of Operations</label></group> <group><header>First Appearance</header> <label>Worm Debut</label> <label>Ward Debut</label></group> </infobox> Sophia Hess is a member of the Brockton Bay Wards.
Background
As Shadow Stalker
Once a cape with a vigilante bent, Shadow Stalker was caught after having nearly killed a man, pinning him to a wall with her crossbow bolts, and chose to join the Wards as a probationary member rather than be sent to juvenile detention. As a condition of her parole, she was given probationary status in the Wards and required to use nonlethal ammunition, a requirement she usually ignored when the Wards aren't looking.
She fought Behemoth in the attack prior to the Battle against Leviathan, although she mostly did search and rescue<ref name="27.3">Extinction 27.3</ref>, presumably alongside the Wards.
As Sophia Hess
In her civilian guise, she was Emma’s best friend and one of Taylor’s tormentors, as well as a member of the high school's track and field team. She wasn't liked by many, beyond Emma and Madison , as she was fairly notorious for being mean spirited. Her brand of bullying tended more towards the physical than any of the other girls – tripping, punching, kicking, shoving, and so on.<ref>Worm: Cast (In Depth)</ref>
She was accused of violating probation shortly after arc 10 and sent to juvenile detention.
Personality
Sophia is a mean spirited, hot tempered and violent teenager. She has nothing but disdain for those she perceives as weak and hates anyone she can't beat in a fight. When Taylor was revealed to be Skitter (thereby proving Sophia's philosophy wrong) Sophia was enraged and later tried to convince herself that she was responsible for what Taylor became. Surprisingly, she admitted to Taylor that she was resentful that Taylor had a parent who actually cared for her enough to actually attend the meeting.
Appearance
Sophia was dark skinned, slender, and athletic, owing to her membership on the track and field team<ref name="1.01">Gestation 1.01</ref>, and likely her nighttime activities in the city.
As Shadow Stalker, Sophia wears a heavy black cloak and skintight black bodysuit with metal kneepads, gauntlets, and a black mask<ref name="9.2">9.2</ref>. Before joining the Brockton Bay Wards, her mask was a modified hockey mask<ref name="19.z">Interlude 19.z</ref>. After joining the Wards, her mask took the shape of a woman's face with a stern expression.
Powers & Equipment
Sophia was capable of shifting herself into a "shadow state" which allows her to pass through walls and makes her lightweight. She could pass on these attributes onto her equipment, including shots fired by her crossbow bolts<ref name="9.2">9.2</ref>.
As Shadow Stalker, Sophia carried two crossbows with both lethal and nonlethal bolts.
She was vulnerable to electricity in her shadow form, possibly more vulnerable than in her normal form. As a Ward, she had lenses built into her mask that could detect electricity.<ref name="9.6">Sentinel 9.6</ref>
If she "stalled" inside a solid object, she lost forward momentum and suffered excruciating pain. She also suffered as badly as anyone from pepper spray or other aerosols if she changed back while they were still inside her, if not worse<ref name="9.6">Sentinel 9.6</ref>.
History
Sophia helped to bully Taylor as a member of the Trio. She helped Madison pour juice on Taylor, laughing "like it was the funniest thing in the world" <ref name="1.01"/>.
As Shadow Stalker, she mocked and threatened Vista. She met Flechette on patrol, who was shocked by how violent she was<ref name="9.2">9.2</ref>.
She was eventually arrested for violating her probation.
She was freed and joined Taylor's group hunting down villains for a time after Golden Morning.
Quotes
- (To Taylor Hebert): “Funny how it all turns out. This, for one thing. That I can’t anticipate you anymore. And… that it’s just you. There’s nobody to mourn me when I'm gone. Family doesn’t really care. No friends left. No teammates, even. I'm left to console myself with the idea that, if I die, I'll at least annoy the depressing, creepy little geek from high school.”
- (To Taylor Hebert): "It's not that I feel driven to win, I simply hate losing!"
References
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