DMW:Actuary
The Actuary
[edit]"Most men rely upon luck. Mortimer Jones merely calculates it." — The Apex City Financial Record, 1936
Mortimer Quentin Jones, better known to the public as The Actuary, is one of the most unusual figures associated with the Miracle Age. Though lacking superhuman strength, remarkable inventions, or occult powers, Jones possesses one of the most formidable intellects ever recorded.
His mind has frequently been compared to a mechanical calculator, a punch-card tabulator, or an electronic counting machine decades ahead of its time. Such comparisons are generally regarded as unfair.
The machines are slower.
A statistician by profession and adventurer by inclination, The Actuary has become one of the closest associates of Blaze Cartwright and a prominent member of the Apex City Explorer's Society.
Early Life
[edit]Mortimer Jones displayed unusual mathematical abilities from an early age.
According to family accounts, he taught himself advanced arithmetic before entering school and was correcting accounting errors in local business ledgers while still a child.
By adolescence, he had developed an extraordinary ability to perform complex calculations entirely in his head.
Teachers initially suspected trickery.
Later they suspected genius.
Still later they suspected something else entirely.
Jones himself has always maintained that he simply enjoys numbers.
The Statistical Mind
[edit]The precise nature of Mortimer Jones' mental abilities remains a matter of debate.
What is known is that he can absorb and process enormous quantities of information with astonishing speed. Distances, angles, weights, velocities, probabilities, trajectories, and patterns all seem to arrange themselves naturally within his thoughts.
Presented with sufficient information, Jones can often predict likely outcomes before events occur.
This has led many observers to describe him as possessing precognitive abilities.
The Actuary rejects this notion completely.
As he once explained:
"The future is merely arithmetic that hasn't happened yet."
The Actuary
[edit]Jones acquired the nickname The Actuary during his rise within the insurance industry.
Colleagues quickly learned that he could identify flaws in risk assessments, predict market fluctuations, and detect fraud with uncanny reliability.
His analyses became so accurate that competing firms accused him of industrial espionage.
Subsequent investigations determined that he was simply better at mathematics than everyone else involved.
This explanation proved deeply unsatisfying to his rivals.
Applied Mathematics
[edit]Unlike many intellectuals, Mortimer Jones has never been content to leave his theories on paper.
Over many years he trained his body to exploit his calculations in practical situations.
As a result, The Actuary has become a surprisingly effective athlete, acrobat, and combatant.
Observers often describe his movements as impossible.
Jones disagrees.
He merely regards them as unlikely.
One famous example involved Jones descending from the roof of a six-story building without ropes or equipment. Witnesses observed him leap outward, strike an awning, rebound toward a second awning, pivot around a flagpole, and land safely on the street below.
When questioned by reporters, Jones explained that he had calculated the most efficient route.
The reporters found this answer considerably less reassuring than he intended.
Mathematical Combat
[edit]The Actuary's greatest practical application of probability theory lies in combat.
By analyzing posture, momentum, reaction time, balance, and available space, he can frequently determine the most advantageous course of action within fractions of a second.
This creates the appearance that he can predict his opponents' actions before they occur.
Experienced boxers have described fighting him as "arguing with geometry."
Criminals generally employ less flattering descriptions.
According to one police report:
"Suspect attempted to strike Mr. Jones nine times. All nine attempts failed. Mr. Jones then informed the suspect that this outcome had been predicted beforehand."
The ACES
[edit]Jones has participated in numerous expeditions alongside Blaze Cartwright as a member of the Apex City Explorer's Society.
The partnership between the two men is widely regarded as one of the most effective in modern adventure.
Where Blaze provides courage, versatility, leadership, and seemingly limitless competence, The Actuary provides analysis, planning, and a level of predictive reasoning that borders upon the miraculous.
Asked why he frequently brings Jones on dangerous expeditions, Blaze once replied:
"Because Morty is usually right."
After a brief pause, he added:
"It's annoying, but useful."
Marriage
[edit]Mortimer is married to the celebrated inventor Mitzi Jones, one of Apex City's most glamorous scientific figures.
A brilliant engineer, aviator, inventor, and socialite, Mitzi is frequently photographed at public events, scientific exhibitions, and air races.
Observers often express surprise that two such remarkable individuals found one another.
Friends of the couple generally express surprise that the world survived the experience.
The Jones household has been described as containing more patents, prototypes, blueprints, and experimental equipment than some universities.
Personality
[edit]Despite his formidable intellect, Jones is generally regarded as polite, patient, and surprisingly approachable.
He rarely raises his voice.
He dislikes unnecessary risks.
He prefers evidence to speculation.
He also possesses a dry sense of humor that many people fail to recognize until several minutes after the conversation has ended.
Public Reputation
[edit]To the public, The Actuary occupies a unique place among the heroes of the Miracle Age.
Blaze Cartwright may represent the pinnacle of human achievement.
The Actuary represents the terrifying possibility that mathematics might secretly run the universe.
Fortunately, he appears to be on humanity's side.
In The Press
[edit]"INSURANCE EXECUTIVE PREVENTS TRAIN ROBBERY USING ALGEBRA."
— Apex Daily News, 1933
"ACTUARY CLAIMS ESCAPE ROUTE HAS 97.3% CHANCE OF SUCCESS. EXPEDITION SURVIVES."
— Explorer's Gazette, 1935
"LOCAL MAN WINS CHESS TOURNAMENT, BOXING MATCH, AND ACCOUNTING AWARD IN SAME WEEK."
— Evening Bulletin, 1934
"MORTIMER JONES STATES BANK ROBBERY WILL OCCUR AT 2:17 PM. BANK ROBBERS ARRIVE AT 2:18 PM."
— Apex Tribune, 1936