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Psylocke

Once a forthright and proper British maiden, Betsy Braddock found herself transformed into a finely tuned Asian assassin. A warrior, Psylocke lived according to her own rules. Hated and feared by humanity as a member of the outlaw X-Men, she laid down her life in defense of a planet on the brink of genetic war -- fighting to unlock the future history of our world!

Real name: Elisabeth Braddock
Occupation: Adventurer at the time of her death
Group affiliation: X-Men at the time of her death, formerly Excalibur
Base of operations: Mobile at the time of her death
First appearance: Captain Britain (Vol. 1) #8 (1976)
First American appearance: New Mutants Annual #2 (1986)

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Eyes: Black
Hair: Purple

Powers: As Captain Britain she now possesses a number of superhuman powers derived from his mystically enhanced uniform. First, the uniform enhances his strength. Second, the uniform enables him to fly. Captain Britain can fly at a maximum speed just under the speed of sound (770 miles per hour) for prolonged periods of time (until bodily fatigue requires him to rest). Third, the uniform can erect mystical force fields at Captain Britain's mental command. This force field is employed to protect him from atmospheric conditions while flying. It is strong enough to deflect a bazooka shell without deforming or rendering it wielder unconscious from the concussion. (Repeated blasts would weaken the field considerably, and eventually penetrate it. The uniform also enhances Captain Britain's stamina and reflexes to superhuman levels.

Weapons: None

History: Betsy Braddock was the daughter of Dr. James Braddock -- once a denizen of Otherworld, an interdimensional kingdom positioned at the nexus of reality, where science and sorcery exist as one. James Braddock was sent to Earth on a quest to father the champion who would come to be called Captain Britain. His first child, Jamie, seemingly did not inherit the genes that would result in superhuman powers. But Braddocks' next children, the twins Brian and Betsy, helped their father fulfill his mission.

As Captain Britain, Brian became his country's foremost defender, fighting alongside the world's greatest heroes. Betsy developed psychic powers, which she used in service of the British law-enforcement agency known as S.T.R.I.K.E. -- a counterpart of S.H.I.E.L.D., a global intelligence and peacekeeping organization. By day, she was a "face." She dominated the covers of the world's fashion magazines, just as she ruled the runways from Milan to New York. By night, however, she lived a secret life -- serving her homeland as a special agent.

When Brian stepped down as Captain Britain, his sister was persuaded to take up the mantle. But Betsy's career as England's preeminent costumed champion came to an untimely end when one of her brother's foes, Slaymaster, savagely beat her until she lay near death and blind. Realizing that her telepathic abilities compensated for her lack of sight, Betsy traveled to Switzerland to recuperate. There, she became a prisoner of the other-dimensional creature called Mojo, who took control of Betsy's will and gifted her with artificial eyes. Ultimately, she was rescued by Professor Charles Xavier's second generation of students, the New Mutants.

Now known as Psylocke, Betsy continued her evolution as a member of the X-Men, Xavier's outlaw band of heroic mutant adventurers. Her most significant transformation took place when the Chinese crime lord called the Mandarin and the other-dimensional sorceress known as Spiral transplanted her psyche into the body of Kwannon, a Ninja assassin. Likewise, Kwannon's essence came to dwell in Betsy's form. The two women maintained their own distinct personalities, while acquiring each other's memories and skills. For a time, a brainwashed Betsy adopted the guise of Lady Mandarin -- the top assassin for the Hand, a clan of Ninja dedicated to world domination. When Kwannon succumbed to the lethal mutant plague known as the Legacy Virus, Betsy became trapped forever in her new form.

A life-saving encounter with the other-dimensional energy source called the Crimson Dawn resulted in a more subtle, though no less meaningful, metamorphosis. Psylocke's fighting skills and telepathic talents were enhanced -- and she acquired the ability to transport herself and others through shadows, as well as become one with the shadows. Also, the mark of the Crimson Dawn -- a blade-like, red tattoo -- appeared over her left eye. Betsy latter sacrificed her psychic powers to forever imprison the telepathic criminal called the Shadow King in her astral shadow form, but subsequently acquired a range of telekinetic abilities.

Psylocke wasn't in the mansion when Xavier turned into Onslaught. Instead they were contacted by Jean and Wolverine and became the first to join what eventually would turn out to be The Resistance.

Following Captain America´s orders and an inner desire to leave the Resistance, she headed to New York and contacted a group of rebels led by Venom. She gave them access to one of the Resistance's bases and acted as liasion to the real Resistance. Though she tried her best the rebels didn't like her too much.

She quickly found Storm and saved her from death by giving her a sip of the Crimson Dawn. Though unknowing at the time she was Gathering the Chosen Ones that formed the Order of the Phoenix. She was known as the Gatherer. She also "recruited" Havok for such a task. Just before the Skrull invaded the Earth she left to Mojoverse, to recruit Longshot and Dazzler, still unknowing of her true destiny.

When they returned to Earth they helped the other heroes banish the invaders. Psylocke then dedicated herself to gather the last chosen ones, Rogue, Colossus, Wolverine and Warbird. She realized that those eight X-Men were her teammates while the world thought they were dead, by far the best time she had with the team. The Chosen Ones had been chosen from her own memories.

The Chosen Ones formed the Order of the Phoenix, each representing a primal force of Earth, either being one of the four elements (water, fire, air, earth) , or one of the four emotions (rage, love, hope, innocence). They each gave her their power, enabling Psylocke to confront Dark Phoenix in the deep recesses of space. With the help of the Order of the Phoenix's assembled powers she was able to banish the Phoenix Force from the Solar System. Forever.

Afterwards she was believed dead by everyone, but the truth was that Roma, who orchestrated the whole event, and the Phoenix Force gave her a gift. They returned her old british body. Blonde once again and with the blooming power of telekinesis (though she lost her Crimson-Dawn shadow teleporting powers) she chose to remain "dead" in the eyes of others. She met Dazzler and, after a warning by Amelia Voght, started a hunt for Cerebro. The hunt for Cerebro was successfull, still Betsy couldn't put it together. She tried to absorb Kitty Pryde's memories on Cerebro, but during the tussle they were teleported by Gateway to Times Square. She witnessed as Dazzler and several others were spirited away by Roma.

Having no clue what to do next she decided to stay with Xavier and the X-Men once more, finally returning to her family.

During her stay at the Hilton Hotel Latveria, Psylocke dyed her hair back to purple, afterwards she suffered an attack and her Crimson Dawn mark reappeared. AFter several minutes of unconsciousness the mark glowed and then faded away. Betsy woke up amnesiac and powerless. Then she returned with the rest of the X-Men to the X-Mansion, where Gatecrasher and her Technet delievered her a message from Saturnyne. Betsy was chosen to be the new Captain Britain of this Earth. Once more in the costume of Captain Mayfly, she now possess the powers and obligations of her brother.