Born in the late 1980s, Doctor Alistair Gaines was a child prodigy in the fields of quantum mechanics and classical philosophy. By his early thirties, he held dual doctorates from both Oxford and MIT. However, his career hit a snag when he began publishing papers on Biological Ontology—the theory that human consciousness isn't generated by the brain, but is "tuned in" like a radio from some external source. The scientific community of the 2020s mocked him. He was dismissed from tenure-track positions and labeled a "quack". He spent a decade in self-imposed exile, funded by shadow-conglomerates (likely early iterations of the corporations that now fund The Anvil), scouring ancient archeological sites for "non-biological resonance." He wasn't looking for aliens; he was looking for something else.

When the first Anomaly manifested in 2038, the world panicked. Conventional biology and physics couldn't explain how a human heart could generate the thermal output of a jet engine. Dr. Gaines, however, wasn't surprised. He was the first person the U.S. government called.

Gaines was instrumental in drafting the Apex Anomalies Accord. His "Ontological Framework" provided the legal definition of an Anomaly and their classifications. He argued that Anomalies were too dangerous to be left in the civilian population but too valuable to be destroyed. This logic led directly to the construction of The Anvil. Gaines personally oversaw the design of the "Containment Wings," ensuring the facility was built not just to hold people, but to dampen the powers themselves, should they grow out of control.

Now in his early sixties, Gaines is a man of clinical habits and deft precision. He is the only person on the Anvil Committee who understands that the "Anomalies" are beings of mystery, just waiting to be unlocked and understood...

• Pronouns: He/Him/His

• Ethnicity: Caucasian

• Birthday: October 12th, 1986 (62)

• Height: 5'5"

• Weight: 184 lbs.

• Skin Color: Pale

• Eye Color: Brown

• Hair Color: Salt 'n Pepper

• Tattoos/Marks: DNA Chain on right forearm.

• Personality: Neat-freak, clever, squeamish

Description

Doctor Gaines typically wears a blue-collared shirt and red tie beneath a white lab coat whenever he wants to look professional (which is almost constantly). Otherwise, he can be a little playful in his attire, often boasting of his fondness for Hawaiian or floral shirts, flip-flops, and khaki shorts.

— Aspects —

Stress

Consequences

Clearance