December QnA here we go (Patreon)

Any IFs out there that caught your attention or tv shows you watch? What's your favourite genre?

I don't really care about the genre, I just want something to grab a hold of me. I am so behind on checking out IF's, but I just bought and love "The Passenger," and I look very much forward to "I, the forgotten one" this summer. Both are very much my vibe, and I can't recommend them enough.

As for TV, I am currently watching "Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" which is a goddamn delight. "Kamen Rider: Geats" is turning out to be one of the better ones so far, which is much needed since I didn't even manage to finish the last one. I recently finished "Kamen Rider Black Sun," which surprised the hell out of me. Nicely political. This Christmas I also watched Hautalehto: Kylmä syli, a Finnish detective show which was criminally charming. I really watch too few things, my watchlist is a mile long.

Do you have, or give yourself, a deadline to get things done? If so, is it a step by step deadline or an overall goal?

I need deadlines, and they need to be close. Step by step all the way. It is tricky though, it is hard to tell how long time things take, and if you are too strict, you will feel like a failure. An overall goal is too easy to put off. And yes, I fail my self-imposed deadlines all the time, but never my outside ones. That's worth losing sleep over.

How respectful were each of the Rangers (and company) in regards to Sidestep's no hospitals policy? What did each of them think was the reason behind it? 

I think Ortega was the most pushy one, mainly because they were very much "But this doctor is okay, really." I think they talked a bit about it behind Sidestep's back, and came to a consensus that it was probably because Sidestep might be wanted. Being a reformed petty criminal would explain everything, and since they were doing good at the moment nobody wanted to push the issue.

Any short story ideas you're willing to share? Or are you currently only focused on the void?

Currently, the Void one is my main focus. I need to get back to Bones of the Land (the Hood story) too, but work has been very very hectic lately. Been too exhausted to write when I come home.

How many ideas have you had that won't fit into the Fallen Hero universe? Will you someday recycle those ideas for another story?

SO MANY. Seriously, I do not lack for cool ideas, I have a number of them. And even though I stole some bits of them for FH, there is still a lot remaining. I just try not to think about it, not to distract myself. But, right before the holidays, my brain apparently got feeling and decided to map out my "crap dad" series of books, so now that one is prepared in case I ever want to write a quick 5 book pulp modern magic series.

What are the general superhero movies like in FHR? Similar to Marvel/DC? (E.g. Standard save the world/universe plot) Comparing how weird the events in FHR are to most hero/villain movies, is reality stranger than fiction? 

I would say that most are more like action movies/thrillers. You know, Top Gun, Mission Impossible or the Bourne series. This is a part of everyone's life, they deal with normal problems. Of course, over the top, but not dimension jumping universe saving things. People are more interested in seeing movies that makes sense of these people, instead of blowing them up to massive proportions.

What were the educations of the Guardians like? What subjects were Blaze and Zephyr good at? On that note, how did Blaze and Zephyr come to meet each other for the first time? On the job as heroes? Or were they already acquainted before that? 

Huh. I have never thought of that. I think Zephyr was a high school dropout who lucked out with the boost drugs and never looked back. School? Who cares. Blaze might have had some ambitions, was probably alright in English and social sciences stuff, but didn't go far since he took the boost drugs before any exams.

Where does Jake fall in the family as a sibling? Oldest? 

Second oldest. He has an older sister who deals with most family things, Jake sends home the money.

Has Pyroclast confided in anybody about his interaction with Void? At all? What does he think of Arsenaux’s renewed Void cult? Oh that is spoilers, not going to tell you that. But it does soundlike the thing he'd keep close to his vest.

What would Nazar have done if he didn’t become a hero? 

Probably started a business, he's got ambition but also likes to be in charge.

Beyond being a devout believer, how would you describe Arsenaux’s personality? 

Decisive, passionate, a bit of an introvert. Has a few close friends, but puts up a front for everybody else.

Is it possible for all the Rangers to defect from being a Ranger to be on our side as public ‘villains’? Or will some of them strongly prefer just to keep at their jobs while secretly siding with Step? 

It is possible for all the Rangers at the end of the game. Who, how and when is dependent on path.

Besides possibly Sidestep, what were the funnest fights the Rangers have had? Why? On the flip side, what were the most frustrating?

Oh the funniest and most frustrating was against a fairly harmless villain called "Flipside". She was a vandal and occasional bank robber, who focused on making large parody drawings of important people. The Rangers were tasked with bringing her in after she had made a 20 foot tall drawing of the current chairman of the Pacific Bank being 'ahem' busy blowing the current president. It was made on the Pacific Bank corporate HQ. The president's image being used was the thing used to request the Rangers.

The problem was Flipside's powers. Apart from having the very handy ability to stick to walls, she also had the power of random wall teleportation. Basically, if she hit a solid surface at any major speed, she would randomly teleport to another surface within fifty yards or so. An impact from falling, being hit into a wall, slamming her fist into a wall, things like that would send her teleporting. As long as she stayed conscious, she could somewhat control the direction. But if she was rendered unconscious (let's say through a lightning bolt), she would teleport truly randomly and might end up sticking to the roof inside a building, or the sewers, or anywhere, making her nearly impossible to find. This was before Sidestep, so no telepaths.

In the end, they never caught her. Marshal Hood managed to drag them out of the mission, and she was active for a few years more before retiring.

Was there ever a moment during Sidesteps vigilante/hero career where they lost control, to the point of potentially scaring the other Rangers? If so, what did the Rangers/other vigilantes think at the time? 

Some Sidesteps might have, probably by going too hard and serious in a fight early on. I will however leave this mostly to headcanon, since I won't detail those times.

Other than that, were there any incidents where others got a peek into what could be termed as the "inner darkness" of Sidestep?

I will leave that to headcanon. There are a lot of messed up vigilantes out there, I never saw Sidestep as one of the worst.

In retribution Mia mentions a top ten list for heroes and villians. Who are the Villians and how would Sidestep compare to them power level wise. Would they be able to beat any in a fight?(assuming in armor)

That would vary depending on the fansite. There are a lot of arguments about that, and whether people are actually dead or just in hiding/retired. Thus there is no straight answer, but I will present a list that might have been seen as correct right before Sidestep debuted. I won't go into comparing and beating, telepathy makes everything weird. That's a different battlefield.

1: Cavalier. There are a lot of people who do not think he's dead, but in hiding, plotting to overthrow the US. Many don't agree, and he's at the center of the most tinfoiling on the forums.

2: The Catastrofiend. Once more, missing but not presumed dead. Many puts it higher, and there's a lot of lore only tangentially connected. Like it's a demon broken through into our word, the original source of the boost drugs, or an alien. In this case, the reputation certainly overshadows the actual powers.

3: Cornelius Vaughn. Operating in the greater Seattle/Vancouver area, he has refused to adopt a villain identity. Ex-military, maskless, and nearly indestructible. He also has the power to induce the people following him to near suicidal acts of bravery, as well as lending them some of his invulnerability. Also known as "The Zombie General," a moniker he hates.

4: Dread Reactor. It is unknown whether this is a boost in armor, a mod, or a true robot. What is certain is that it is the size of a small building, completely submersible and operates out of the scattered remnants of Moresby Islands on the Canadian west coast. It has the powers of a battleship, and has so far resisted any attempts to shut it down. Some people would rank it as nr. 2, but there has not been enough footage to truly convince people of its destructive powers.

5: Vimana. She titles herself "the atomic woman," or "the ultimate weapon." She's currently dug down in the midwest, regularly raiding in the Salt Lake - Yellowstone - Denver triangle. She can fly, but the greatest danger is her atomic blasts, which leaves the surroundings contaminated afterwards. Thus, people are very reluctant to engage her, and she gets what she wants mostly without a fight.

6: The Void. The Void is consistently underestimated. A lot their powers are kept inside the cult, so there is a lot less tinfoiling around this one than there should be.

7: Danger Zone. Living on the Mexican border, she could be described as living artillery. If threatened, her circle of light activates, going from a small halo to a massive circle in the sky, hundreds of meters across. Anything beneath that circle can be hit by spears of light, like non-electrical lightning. She has a small following, who reveres her as The Saint of the End, but she is not religious.

8: Arsenaux. Probably the most powerful living fire boost out there, and with the New Flesh backing her up, she consistently ranks high. Besides, her powers look very cool. And yes, she has powered up since the encounter during the Void assault.

9: Psychopathor. While not too powerful, he has been around a long time. And, having done a lot of weird shit, people tank him higher than they should. It might help that he's got backup from Tina and her organization.

10: Bonnie Belle. The resident Oregonian villain, her powers have been described as looney tunes in origin. She is a shapeshifter, whose body has the consistency of rubber, impervious to much damage. She can imitate people, and even their powers to some extent, at least if they are physical in nature. She is a major problem for the Portland Rangers.

Excluding Sidestep's old energy caster, are there any additional toys/gadgets planned for the future books? Or will we mainly get small upgrades to the suit like we did in book 2?

Not sure yet. I will see what could be fun as I start writing the fights. That's the big limiter here, if I add stuff, I need to write variables for it. 

Pre-Heartbreak, if Sidestep and Ortega had a thing, did things ever progress beyond kissing and maybe light groping? you don't have to specify anything =)

Not as stated in the books, but I will never ruin headcanons.

Third question: What would each Ranger play as part of a dnd party, and how do you think that would go?

Hmmm Ortega would play evocation wizard, but forget to max out their con so would be very brittle and swear a lot. Argent would be the bard that seduces everything, because this is just make-believe so of course she can. Daniel would play warlock, maybe with a faerie patron. Would be fun to play around. Chen would play a battlemaster fighter because all of the others are brittle as fuck and someone needs to pick up the slack. He would grow bored early on, and multiclass with rogue to get some versatility. If Dr. Mortum was the DM, then nobody would ever figure out the plots, and the good doctor would soon realize that whatever was planned would devolve into craziness. 

Has Elena every thought about remarrying? Or is she interested in dating again? Has she already? 

She has not thought about about remarrying, but she has dated on occasion. She never tells Ortega, she keeps her private life to herself. 

Was it difficult for trans Steps to get access to HRT in the FEZ? Were they able to obtain it legally or did they have to find black market sources for it?

It was easier than it would have been on the east coast. Mostly everything is for sale here, it's not a black market substance. All that's needed is money.

In their hero days, did Step ever get any money (directly or indirectly) from the Rangers? Or was that not really allowed?

You bet Ortega tried to funnel as much as they could on Sidestep's direction. Some practical things, like a proper skinsuit, or cash for medical care and stuff. I doubt Ortega would care if it was allowed.

When did the Crack debut as a villain? What had been their motivation for killing the former mayor? Did Mia ever get a chance to interview the Crack?

The crack debuted in 2015. There has been speculation to what the cause was for the murder of the Mayor, but considering most of the other targets where LDPD it is possible it was because the current Mayor was closely aligned with them. Some would say he had swept quite a few things under the carpet.

What kind of work did Tina want to offer for Vernon? 

Research. He knows alot, and she could use that.

What are some of the things Ortega remembers about Hood when they think about him? Are there any particular memories they enjoy sharing aloud?

I think Ortega often thinks back on the quiet moments. There was a calm surety about Hood that I think Ortega needed at that stage of their life. Not needing to prove anything. And it was inspirational to see how little Hood was impressed by military and politicians, no hostility or need to prove his point. Just very no-nonsense. Ortega took a few cues from that. I think one of the memories they like to share is when someone tried to put down Hood and failed abysmally.

Does Blaze have any family? If so, how did they take his possible death? How did they take him becoming a hero and later the leader of the Guardians?

Yeah, Blaze's dad is still alive, but they are not close. Vince was never really close to his family, he didn't feel like he had much to lose when he took the boost drugs. He regularly sends his dad money, but mostly to keep him out of his hair.

For your endgame Void project, what platforms are you thinking of making/releasing it on? 

It is just a little fantasy, that is not even on the menu yet. Might never happen.

Who suggested Regina as a potential green sky recruit?  What made them decide against recruiting her?

I don't know who it was, but the Green Sky has people in many walks of life. One of the things that made them decide against it in the end was the ties to the US military. She was deemed too risky to approach.

What are Dr. Finch's thoughts on regenes? Assuming, of course, she knows anything about them.

She only knows of them like most people do, as organic weapons of the army. She doesn't think it's morally right, but then again she is not a pro-military person. She's treated too many traumas for her to be.

When did Ortega's hallucinations of Step first begin? 

Pretty much the first days after Heartbreak.

Would love life advice would Joe give?

It's better to apologize than focus on being proven right. Nobody keeps count, and if they do, walk away.

How are Re-Genes usually punished if they try to escape and are caught?

It depends. If they are deemed too much of a risk, they are mentally scrubbed clean and their AI chip reset to start over from scratch. If that's been proven to be a repeated issue, it's recycling time. However, if the attempt was clumsy or hesitant, they are kept whole. The punishment is usually removal from their team, and placed in a new one (a bit like the punishment battalions of WW2). It will also involve restrictive mods, like implanted explosives, poison injectors or more tracking devices. A penal team is often used for training, and rarely leaves the Farm. Other teams are pitted against it, often with the odds against them. Of course any privileges previously had would be lost. If any Farm staff got injured in the attempt, there will be retaliation. This is not official punishment, but rather people looking the other way when ReGenes gets hurt or abused.

Can a non-telepaths infect another non-telepath with the "infection"?

Hmmm. Under very special circumstances perhaps.

What made Dr Jansen consider Ljungstrand "too dangerous to her career"?

Ignoring scientific ethics will blow up sooner or later, and she wouldn't want to be implied in any scandals there.

How deep does Void's base go?

A couple of hundred meters. There were plans for more expansions, but they ran into problems.

How would Ortega react finding out that Daniel is involved in Marek's show? Would they even find that out actually?

Ehehehe oh that is too juicy to spoil. We will delve into that in game.

Is heartbreak's mind in the same place as their physical body?

Nope.

What’s Lord Ember’s sexuality? Would he ever try to impress Step out of spite if they were interested in him, but didn’t find him attractive and told him so? 

I think Lord Ember is mostly straight. Who knows, maybe he'll have a bi awakening eventually. But yes, he definitely wants to be admired by men as well, especially the reluctant ones. There, the ego takes hold. If anybody has read/seen Dorohedoro, he is very close to En.

Is Marek still a little dickhead? Does he know who his benefactor is, and could he be keeping that up his sleeve for later use?

Marek is good at business, and knows a lot of things. Wouldn't still be in the business otherwise.

How well did Chen get along with Themmy, Sunstream, Sentinel, and Nazar? Does he stay in contact with the latter two? 

Chen got along with them in this order from best to least: Sunstream - Sentinel - Anathema - Ashfall. He felt a bit like a big brother to Sunstream, and was sad when she left, though he understood it. It was best for her mental health.

Were the nanovores created by GeniTech?

Nope.

What would be everyone's (Rangers, Mortum, and the Trios) presentability score and sense fashion be? 

Argent: Feminine, fashionable elegant: 50

Nocturne: Feminine, expensive elegant: 45

Hollow Ground: Androgynous, expensive suits: 45

Julia: Androgynous, expensive casual: 35

Ricardo: Masculine, expensive casual: 35

Daniel: Androgynous, elegant street wear: 35

Dr. Mortum: Androgynous, quirky preppy: 35

Jake: Masculine, edgy suits: 30

Chen: Masculine nondescript military surplus: 15

Are there any famous solo heroes who never signed on to be with a team/partner/company/organisation?

Most sign up with at least a company or an organization eventually. It is hard to become famous on your own, unless you are already rich. There might be powerful solo heroes, but they are rarely famous.

What’s the likelihood of the west coast mysteries team’s benefactor suggesting they look into the truth about regenes?

Maybe eventually.

Has Ortega already come out to Elena? If yes, how did it go? If no--do they dread it? Do they dread it in different ways (Julia VS. Ricardo)?

It varies, and we will deal with that in game. I will say however, that in some cases Elena might already know, but no official words have been said between them. Ortega is a bit tense about talking about this, it's awkward as hell.

Were there ever any attempts to enhance the abilities of people who are born with natural "powers" (like natural born psi-sensitives) the same way it can be done for boosts (via trauma/life-or-death situations)? If yes, were they successful?

There have been attempts, and they have on occasion been successful.

Where does Nocturne sit as one of the sisters in her family? Oldest? Youngest? Middle? What was her relationship to them like? 

She's in the middle, and she has a distant but polite relationship. No thanksgiving dinners, but a polite card at Christmas.

If Argent is dating Sidestep has she ever gone to sleep cuddling up on a pillow and imagining the pillow was Sidestep?

Yeeeep.

Aside from Cavalier, how many ex-military soldiers have turned villain or considered turning villain? How much of these was a direct result of what they saw on the battlefield?

More than there would be if it was random. And yeah, it is definitely related to what they saw and did.

Does the Void appear differently to different people? Like, in terms of looks or voice or physicality or anything?

Yes, that is one effect of the voidfield.

What does void see/sense with their usual senses vs when they open their third eye?

What we see (with a bit of special sauce). And then, they see the truth. It hurts, so can't do it indefinitely.

Did Ortega witness firsthand that Ashfall might be susceptible to mind fuckery?  Might that have influenced their decision not to involve him in the Heartbreak incident?

Are the events of Void Compound what prompted Charge to not bring Ashfall along for the Heartbreak raid? Or rather, did they affect the Marshal’s opinion on who could or could not handle it to any degree? 

I think it is fair to say that was one of the reasons. Ortega lost a lot of trust that day.

Did ashfall have scars that have disappeared since boosting and using his dispersal powers? Has he gotten any since being boosted or do the wounds fade completely when he... reintegrates, i guess?  Is it possible to wound him irreparably with his dispersal and reintegration? 

Yeah, Ashfall don't get any scars. However he can be hurt, especially if he can't reintegrate with a larger part of his ash. He doesn't miss parts of himself when he returns, but his body reacts strongly, like influenza or an infection. If it's real bad he could end up in a coma.

What pushed anathema away from the cult?

A growing self-confidence.

Is the place that ashfall goes while in scattered form the same "void between bodies" that sidestep goes to in between body hopping?

Unclear, it is certainly possible.

How much did the Farm use Sidestep's "human" identity after their second imprisonment and capture? Did the farm weaponize it / call Sidestep by their "name" / anything of the sort for Psychological Warfare, or did they go back to simply treating Sidestep as an object?

As an object. Sidestep was irrelevant as anything but a source of scientific information.

Does Arsenaux have to commission builders to make doors tall enough to comfortably fit her? Or does she have to hunch like Lady Dimitrescu?

I mean in places she has control over, yes. Otherwise it's hunching.

Can the decreasing of the heartbreak scars variable be described as "the scar becoming less inflamed/angry/raised", or is it more of re-opening the wound?

The former, it is a measure of getting better.

We know that the Void presented to Pyroclast as a "She," but physically what did she look like? Did she have a consistent physical appearance in Nazar's eyes, or did they shift and change despite the gender being consistent in his perceptions?

Oh Void had a specific physical look for him. No changes there.

Ashfall saw void as a "she" while step, in using the eyes of one of void's followers, saw them as short. Is void's physical appearance actually shifting? or is the form void is perceived dependent on the viewer, kind of like how mind shields can look different to different telepaths? 

The Void's appearance is not shifting, but not all people can see all of the Void.

Can Step ever talk to Pyroclast about the Void and what he felt about the experience he had? Maybe even help him? Because that emotional aftermath worries me.

That didn't happen, sadly.

How does Blaze feel about the casualties he’s responsible for when he uses his powers? The civilians who are hurt/killed because of him?

Real bad.

Was The Void actually physically there at the compound? Or were they chilling in the between space, and using similar powers like Heartbreak did to make people "hallucinate" their presence?

Oh the Void was fully there. Too tempted.

Hypothetically, could Sidestep possess/mind dive into one of the Void’s followers?

These days, yes. It might get interesting though. Back then, not deep. Just picking surface things.

Could Ortega, if they were still in their Marshal position, have been able to pay off their debt eventually?

I mean... possibly. But not with how they likes to live.

If he went all out, just how high in temperature can Blaze get with his heat generation?

Hmmm. It depends on the area. On very small areas, he can reach welding temperatures (3000-5000 C), but the moment he expands it, it drops a lot. In a room he could perhaps reach 500.

Basing on last month's QnA answer about the heartbreak incident: Everything the government knows was based on Charge and especially Steel's testimony.

Why is it especially Steel, considering that Ortega is the one who is immune to heartbreak's telepathic attack, and would thus most likely have a testimony closest to the truth?

Because Ortega was a wreck, and not at all cooperative. They were not trusted at that point, and were suspected of lying.

Anathema and Sidestep were killed by the terrorist. Considering Themmy's invulnerability, how did they actually explain how the terrorist killed them? 

They didn't. This was just for the normal people, no explanation needed. Basically it was "not as invulnerable as previously thought."

Does Mitchell know much about Porthole? What about the Rangers/Guardians themselves? 

Not much, neither of them has had much interaction.

Is the intel on them kept private but accurate like the Rangers? Or is it more like Argent’s, where it’s falsified?

It is cleaned up, but the truth is known to people who have access to the records. So the Rangers knows, but the public doesn't.

If an adult non-human animal brain, which already has a concept of a body, was implanted into an artificial body - will the experiment fail? Will it it because just like human brains, they cannot reconcile being in an artificial body after having a memory of a real one? 

So far, every single experiment has ended in madness and self-destruction. It is considered a bit of a golden grail for mod-related research.

Will we ever be able to have some sort of positive relationship (platonic or otherwise) with catastrofiend? If so what's the chance that it ends terribly for Step and or everyone else? 

Ahahaha.... hmm... don't think so. But it's not written yet, so who knows.

How does Ortega's static feel to Sidestep's telepathy when they're having a seizure? 

Loud, to the point of pain. At least if Sidestep is not prepared. These days, it is very easy to shield out, but back in the day it was quite a shock the first time.

Will Sidestep have an opportunity to talk about moving in together and having a family with RO in the future?

Yeah, in the future. Right now the mission comes first.

Some people have a preferred ways of arranging the room before they can comfortably sleep. Some prefer to have the fan on, others like the room warm. Some people enjoy a pillow fortress around them, others are satisfied with one pillow. Sleeping positions (soldier, fetal, etc-). Light levels, etc- How do the Rangers prefer their bed accommodations?

Ortega: Complete blackout curtains, no light. Pillow to hug, cold temperature.

Chen: Can sleep anywhere, a bed is nice but not needed. 

Argent: Likes it warm, a very soft mattress. No fan. Somewhat dark. Lots of pillows.

Daniel: Cooler. Doesn't mind a bit of light. Light bedclothes. Tends to float unless he's clinging to something.

How much does consciousness play a role in being able to shield one’s thoughts? If someone naturally has good mental shields, would their mind be easier to invade while they’re asleep or would it be about the same?

It depends on the kind of defenses. Passive ones are almost better when asleep, but active ones (like focusing on an earworm) are better while awake. A sleeping mind is harde to make sense of, though. And easier defended through nightmares.

How does sleep affect Sidestep’s telepathic powers?

That is slowly becoming an issue. There are reasons Sidestep prefer to not sleep.

What was each of the pasts Marshal's greatest and most defining "Leadership" moment? Not asking about Chen because his greatest leadership moment could very well be ahead in his immediate future, and we all know the more our villains fuck around the more they will find out 

Marshal Hood: Most people don't know about it, but it was during the creation of the Rangers. He was one of the ones making sure it was just not a division of the military.

Marshal Charge: I think the Nanosurge was what defined Marshal Charge for many, though they were certainly not alone there.

Does Ortega know about Mia's connection to Vernon? If so, do they care?

Yes, and no.

Do they even know who Mia is? 

Oh yes.

Does Chen have any particular things he’s planning on doing/picking up if and when he retires?

No, that still feels far away.

Would Argent have any sort of faith in Anarchist Steps? Or will she always stay suspicious of them? 

Argent can grow to trust them!

Are there any specific prisons for telepaths?

No, but special blocks fitted with dampeners. However, the telepath prison population is much lower than it was five years ago.

If there had been (or  if there are and we just don't know it yet) other "survivors" of Heartbreak, like Sidestep, would they also have the psychic scars of it? Would their scars be different than Sidestep's, and what would determine that?

Any survivor would have scars. They would be similar to Sidesteps, but some parts would be personal. It is partly based on the person. For example, there might me a "megalomaniac" scar for some, or a "parasocial attachment" scar for others. The first one would have people feel like they are the most important people in the world and should run it, the other might have people automatically assume people are friends and treat strangers as family.

Also, was killing the victims (or rather, causing them to kill themselves) Heartbreak's intent, or were the people who died in the incident victims of an unfortunate side-effect of something Heartbreak themself was experiencing/ projecting maybe?

It was an unfortunate side effect.

Sidestep seems to have formed very dense neuronal connections in the brain post-first escape. If Sidestep's DNA or AI chip is cloned, will this clone possess the same "neurally denser brain structure" as Step, or will the clone simply possess the base brain connection Step originally had when they were decanted?

Hmmm I think it would be like the original setup. It's hard to close things like that, just like you can't decant someone with olympic athlete training. Some things the body and mind needs to learn.

If a Sidestep gifted Elena one of those twelve foot tall giant lawn skeleton decorations for the holidays would Elena ever use it?

Sadly, I think that would end up in the barn, ready to scare the shit out of anybody unprepared.

What are some of Zephyr’s techniques for attacking enemies/causing damage? What weapons do they use?

With Zephyr's speed, they prefer to use precision weapons. Things like icepicks, stilettoes, things that penetrate but doesn't need too much force. It is easy to damage yourself in high speed combat. In fact, Zephyr's left arm is armored on their suit, with a very stiff glove and support for impact. This helps reduce the strain on their body. But most often they use more passive means, like entangling things, shaped charges and stuff. Since they can just run up and place things, they can ve bery dangerous against armored, slower foes.

Are the memories for Regene chips considered "used up" once they're implanted? Or... is it possible there's a bunch of Regenes with the same memories as each other?

They are not used up, and many regenes share similar memories if they have proven successful. In fact, that is the closest thing regenes has to blood relations, people who share similar memory sequences.

On a scale of 1 to Dad, how often does Leo pun outside of the Handyman identity? Has Owl ever contemplated murder from it? Does he wear Hawaiian print shirts?! IS HE CAMP?

100% Dad. Owl suffers for it, but he has brightened up her life. Would wear Hawaiian print shirts as unashamedly as Ortega.

We know Daniel comes from money. What is the other members of the Rangers Team's class background? Is there any matter of... divide / unease that grows from class dynamics between them? 

OOooh interesting. Yes, there is some. Ortega's background is more influenced by the military than money. But they certainly remembers not being able to afford things as a child. That is one of the reasons why they tend to love spending their wealth. Show off a little. 

Chen is from a solid middle class background, his parents owned their own large apartment in NY and made good money. However, with the rents, and the many children there was not much left over. He is very aware of how cavalier Danny is around money, but also how he tries. 

Daniel is upper class, comes from money but also ran face first into a world without it when he ran away to the west. He still has the reflexes of someone who is used to not thinking about money, but he is aware that others might be broke. However, he is a lot more conscious of dignity than Ortega, and doesn't offer things as openly. He's aware that charity can be humbling.

Argent is on the cusp of working class/lower middle class and comes from a family where you work for whatever you want. Your money is your money. No charity, that makes people lazy. 

Why reasons does Herald’s family have of not being approving of heroes? Are they the same to Sunstream’s mother’s?

Sunstream's mother is more opposed on religious grounds. Herald's family is opposed because it's gauche, risky and not really in line with how you are supposed to be as a part of the family. They would have disapproved as hard if Daniel wanted to become a teacher or something.

How prominent are the regular Olympics and superpowered Olympics in-universe? Is the hype about the same as it is irl, or does the lack of combat kinda lower the hype? Are there full-force combat competitions out there?

I'd say it's the same as here. There are a lot of people who thinks boosts are just cheap showboating, much like people dislikes halfpipe when slalom already exists. The combat competition are a highlight though, that's where the real drama is.

Does Chen know anything more than the population about Cavalier's "death"?

Not much.

Chen seems to be comfortable with hiding a Sidestep he agrees with. Does he aid and abet other people that wouldn't quite be considered on the "right" side of the law? 

On occasion, yes.

Does Ortega and Dr. Halabi have a deeper relationship than patient/doctor? Does Ortega trust and share anything with Dr. Halabi? Has Dr. Halabi let useful things slipped that could have helped Ortega's conspiracy board? 

Just a little bit. Ortega is good at worming out information. But the relationship is patient/doctor, but a warm one.

Does Ortega know Mortum because of the Nanosurge, or have they rubbed elbows in other settings? If the latter, was that before or after the nanosurge? Have they been in contact, directly or indirectly (and barring the hospital scene in Rebirth), since the start of Rebirth?

It has been in other settings! As to whether they have met post Rebirth, the answer is yes.

Daniel seems breezier about protection than other Rangers can be. Has anyone managed to slip in his apartment unnoticed before for info-gathering? Would that explain some information leaks Sidestep has been picking up? Or--is Herald's apartment more protected than it looks (just like his mind wink wink)?

It is more protected, but yeah, Danny is less focused on security than the others. Most of the protections are focused around the door, it is securely sealed most of the time. Danny used the rooftop exit, which might be a weak point for another flier.

And finally: what does Marek think of Ortega's career and public persona? If the opportunity arose, would he participate in trying to shoot them down / leak information again, or is there no bad blood on his side?

Hehehehe spoilers....

On the other hand, is Ortega aware of Marek's new career and his potential sponsors, or is Marek not on their radar anymore?

Ortega is aware of Marek's new career, they like keeping track on things.

Will you give us choices regarding how Sidestep's second escape went (stratagems used, casualties...) or will this be more of a Heartbreak sequence type of scene (Sidestep's control curtailed, lots of choices and almost no agency?). Which of course brings me to: was Sidestep fully aware / in control of themself when they escaped?

I am not sure yet. I am still working that out.

Wait while I'm here, I'll shoot my shot again: want to spare any crumb, any cryptic encoding, any obscure hint about Ortega's mindscape?

1929's gentleman club.

The "look" variable in rebirth - is it tied to what step saw at the actual point of heartbreak, or the reliving of it?

What they actually saw.