Safety Word

Achilles Heel: Safety Word by Senator Cybus

Note: this Achilles Heel is best suited for a super-soldier, cyborg, robot or other 'constructed' hero.
The agency responsible for empowering or manufacturing the super being is also responsible for devising a powerful method of controlling him. Specifically, the character is programmed to respond to a command phrase that over-rides his conscious mind and forces him to react in a certain way.
This phrase will be a single sentence, typically something that sounds like nonsense to the average listener, e.g. "The red squid flies at dawn" or "Welcome to the White House, Mr Gore". Certainly it will be something that would be virtually impossible to guess.
If the super being hears this phrase, he will automatically react in the pre-programmed manner: there is no save against it, regardless of how strong-willed the character may normally be.
To determine the response, roll 1D4 and consult the following list: once selected, the response is always the same. In all cases, the effect will last for 1D4+1 melee rounds.

1. Shut Down. The character instantly slumps to the floor in a deep sleep/stand-by mode. In this state, he is oblivious to pain or sensory stimulus.

2. Beserker Rage. The super being flies into a murderous fury and will immediately attack the nearest living thing. In this state, he will not pull his punches: all attacks cause maximum possible damage. Unless restrained or killed, he will continue to fight for as long as his programming dictates.

3. Power Down. All of the character's extraordinary abilities switch themselves off! For super beings, this means all powers shut down, including 'passive' powers like Healing Factor or Invulnerability. For cyborgs or robots, this means that all weapon systems power down, no sensory systems other than basic vision and hearing are accessible and speed and strength are reduced to 25% of normal. If a Mystically Bestowed character has this flaw (in this case, the command phrase could be a quick incantation or perhaps the full, true name of the entity that empowers him), he will be forced to change back to his regular, human form.

4. Retreat. The super being will drop everything and attempt to flee to the location that he considers to be the safest. This could be his own home, his super-team's headquarters or some remote patch of wilderness. In this state, he receives a bonus of 10% to his Spd. attribute. He will only fight to clear people out of his path, but will readily destroy property if it is in his way.

1D4+1 NPCs will know the secret command phrase: the player and G.M. should work together to determine exactly who these individuals are. At least one must be the individual most directly responsible for the character's empowerment/manufacture. One other should be a trusted ally of the super being; a team mate, relative or close friend.