Superpowers. I think at least once in everyone's life they wish for a power of some sort. Of course, there are more useful ones than others, but nonetheless being able to do something out of the ordinary and rather extraordinary would be amazing.
This week's community challenge by Lost_in_Translation is MUTANT POWERS!
The Challenge:
"What I'd like people to write about this week, is what you think would be the most useful super power to have, and (more importantly) why. It could be one from an existing mutant in the X-Men universe, or it could be a mutant from another form of media. It could be from comics, movies, TV, videogames...really, any medium is available to you. All I ask is that you explain why that power would be useful, and perhaps how you'd use it if you had the ability."
For me, the most useful super power would be the power to heal, either oneself or others. Being a plagued planet, having the ability to heal either from injury or disease would be very useful. It might cause an end to modern medicine since, but it would be able to cure those currently incurable diseases. On top of that, this ability leads to no chance of there ever being a zombie apocalypse!!
♥ Rapid Cellular Regeneration ♥
Rapid cell regeneration also known as "spontaneous regeneration", "tissue regeneration", "epithelial cell regeneration", or simply "regeneration" or "healing". It is the ability to regenerate cells at an increased rate, resulting in physical injuries healing in a matter of seconds or minutes. The most advanced form of this power is called Totipotency, which is the ability to regenerate one’s entire body back from just one part of one’s body (even as small as a cell).
There are different levels of regeneration. Depending on the potency of this ability they may be able to heal from any wound and be rendered immune to any ailment that affects both the mind and body. There are people who can naturally have the ability (ie. gene mutation) or those who have acquired it (ie. injection, radiotion). Each ability has different properties and limitations, but nonetheless have the same basic healing factors.
Some different variations of the ability:
Claire Bennett (Heroes)
Save the cheerleader, save the world!
Ability: Claire Bennett has the natural ability to heal. She had this ability since birth, but it has not stunted her growth, so she continues to age. She has the ability to heal physical wounds and sicknesses. She can also regenerate lost body parts, for instance she cuts off her little toe to see if it would grow back (it did).
Limitations: She feels everything that happens when injured, it is not like she can't feel the pain. She also has to realign her body parts for them to heal properly, although she can function with them misplaced. Also, if a foreign object is lodged in her brain her ability to heal is stunted because the brain isn't sending signals to her body, however once the object is removed the ability will activate again.
Useful Factor: The blood of a person with rapid cellular regeneration can be injected into another and it would heal their wounds/sickness.
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All vampires/hybrids (The Vampire Diaries/The Originals)
Just a scratch.
Ability: This ability is acquired through death and transition into a vampire/hybrid. Since vampires/hybrids are an undead species, they also acquired a variety of other abilities; healing factor is just one. Vampires/hybrids can never be sick, they will also heal cuts, wounds and burns (and any other physical debilitation.) They also feel pain, but the older they are the more tolerant they become.
Limitations: Being a creature derived from magic, vampires/hybrids have several limitations that the healing factor cannot compensate for. If a vampire drinks vervain their system is weakened, if a hybrid drinks vervain or wolfsbane their system is weakened; thus the healing factor doesn't work as quickly. A werewolf/hybrid bite to a vampire is fatal, it completely stunts their regenerative power and will kill them with 24hrs due to poison. Vampires can burn to death in the sun if they do not retreat fast enough, they can also be killed by a wooden stake through the heart or simply having the heart ripped out (other organs such as spleens, livers, eyes, etc. will all grow back).
Summer sunshine, I miss you!!
Useful Factor: Vampire/Hybrid blood when given to humans will heal them of their injuries. However, if the human dies (usually an external cause like murder), then they will become a vampire.
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Slade Wilson and Roy Harper (Arrow)
[Season 2 - Spoiler Alert]
Ability: This ability can only be acquired through the serum, Mirakuru. the Mirakuru was a serum that caused increased strength and rapid cell regeneration created by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, in hopes of creating an army of super soldiers. From viewing, Slade Wilson was the first person to be injected with the Mirakuru and survives. He awoke with all his burn marks healed and physical wounds shut. It granted him the healing factor ability along with inhuman strength and enhanced senses. Roy Harper proved another successful subject and was granted the same ability. Normally, a sedative is supposed to be used, but in the cases of Slade and Roy non wereused.
Limitations: The serum originally didn't have a high success rate; the subjects injected would bleed from their eyes and die. If successful, while the body was physically keen, the mental backlash the Mirakuru was treacherous. The serum has serious side effects. Slade "Deathstroke" and Roy "Red Arrow" both had trouble controlling their rage, anger and sensibility. While a gift, the Mirakuru is also a curse for it creates an almost uncontrollable rage, anger and hatred towards others. The strain can completely wipe someone's sense of control. This loss of control is usually triggered by an event. Also, the healing factor of the serum did not allow for regeneration of body parts. Slade stated that everything else healed, except for his eye (which never grew back).
Useful Factor: Training to control the anger helps, however it is very difficult and strenuous. While Roy was still in control he helped the Arrow fight his enemies, due to his strength and ability to heal this was quite useful. Slade was the same way before he found out the Arrow had a part in his lover's death. Besides the mental loss of control, a person would never be ill if injected with the serum.
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With this ability we would be able to end long term illnesses. We'd also be able to save those people who would have normally died from severe injuries, especially those who were victims of a terrible incident. While I feel this ability would be abused by many, it would have a lot more benefits than negatives.
If I personally had this ability, I'm not sure I would tell the world because then I would just be a lab rat. I would heal those that I deemed worthy of being healed. Obviously like my friends and family, but I wouldn't mind helping those who fell victim to a disease. I'd just donate blood to the American Red Cross every once in a while.