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Dr. Michael Tolken was a brilliant theorist in the field of astrophysics, working on a number of revolutionary ideas concerning the density of the universe. Michael had postulated that "shadow matter" made up a large portion of the universe's density. Using modern techniques, analysts can only account for roughly one-seventh of the universe's density, and Michael's theory accounted for the remainder. Overlapping dimensions--not in the space/time sense, perhaps, but dimensions we have yet to account for--could explain much of that yet to be explained. A black hole is a point where all the shadow matter converges, creating the ultimate point of density in the universe.

So Michael continued his experiments at the University of Washington in Seattle. Using a single atom of antimatter created by the superconductors in Geneva, Michael was mapping the symmetries between matter and antimatter. A single atom of antimatter, a nucleus made of antiprotons and antineutrons surrounded by a swarm of positrons in an electro-magnetic trap. It was at this point that scientific espionage intruded.

Michael hadn't thought of any practical uses for his discovery--he was in it for the answers, after all--but someone had. Some corporation seemed to know a great deal about science; more specifically, Michael’s work. Agents broke in to Michael's lab as he was firing up his experiment. A stray shot from an overzealous operative managed to shatter the vacuum-gauge, releasing the single atom of antimatter. Unfortunately, the ionization of the blaster coupled with the ambient energy produced by the experiment was enough to open a brief portal to one of Michael's theorized 'shadow dimensions'. There was a >pop<, then Michael knew no more. How long he remained this way he didn't know; it could have been minutes, it could have been years. In actuality, it was two weeks.

How he returned he has yet to discover, but return he did. And he felt different--charged. He was much stronger than before, though he worked diligently to hide this from his peers. He invented a story of kidnapping, which fit the state in which the mystery operatives had left his lab, and professed no knowledge of his abductors. He fabricated a story of telling them all his secrets, and they released him rather than risk a murder charge. The police and science community accepted this, and life quickly returned to normal.

Except for Michael Tolken, of course. What Michael had discovered about the shadow dimensions was that a great store of untapped, and untamable, energy was contained there. Essentially the power of a black hole was at his beck and call. Michael decided that this was too much information, too much power, for man to have in this day and age. The harm outweighed the benefit, and his curiosity would just have to wait for another day to reveal his studies.

Michael's body somehow absorbed the energy of the shadow dimension to which he was transported. Much like air will seek out areas of low pressure in order to equalize pressure, so too did the energy seek to establish a balance, and Michael was the 'low pressure zone'. His theory continues in that once a balance of density was established, he was 'popped' back to his home dimension. He'll have to study that further, of course, but that's his starting point. He is much stronger, much more durable than he ever was before, and even without altering his density he functions on a 'super' level. Increasing his body's density beyond a certain point causes some pain, but in spite of that he decided he rather enjoyed the feeling of power he got from his newfound abilities.

Michael Tolken is a reasonably attractive man in his early thirties. He stays in shape with morning jogs and the occasional racquetball session, and swimming regularly. He's a firm believer in the 'sound mind, sound body' principle. His dress is atypical for a scientist of his caliber; usually jeans and a cotton button-up shirt. He keeps his sandy-blond hair neat and tidy, and occasionally wears glasses while working, though he doesn't need them full time.  His hero costume at this point is blue-jeans, a tight black shirt, boots, and a trench coat (a bit of melodrama, that, but he's new at this).