Biography — 21 (short story)
Biography — 21 was a short story printed in the TV Century 21 Annual of 1966. It was a crossover with the Doctor Who universe as it mentioned the Astrans, which had been introduced in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
William Frazer is born in Kahra on Mars in 2018 to space pioneers Sir William and Lady Frazer. He is educated at Kahra University and graduates with degrees in mathematics, space navigation and music. Frazer joins the Martian Space Academy and successfully qualifies as an astronaut in 2036. In 2037, he inherites his father's title upon his death.
Transferred to the World Space Patrol headquarters in Washington as aide to Air General Steve Kalizki, Frazer moved with Kalizki when he was promoted to the position of Director of the Universal Secret Service. In order to protect their families, Frazer became Brent Cleever while Kalizki took on the name Zodiac. While on holiday in 2039, Cleever became embroiled in a plot to assassinate the Venusian President but was able to destroy the would-be killers.
Soon afterwards, he encountered the crime syndicate SOFRAM for the first time. Captured by SOFRAM agents, he escaped thanks only to a child's toy. On his return to Mars, newly-inspired by his dance with death, Cleever contacted the Century 21 toy company and requested toys based on his designs and specifications. Although he was nearly killed twice during the development process, they were soon standard issue to all agents. General Zodiac, now codenamed S, decided that the USS should take over the factory and use it as a cover for the organisation. At the same time, S hired Tina Palamac as a chief designer.
In 2041, Cleever was promoted to Senior Special Agent and quickly established himself to be the USS agent. While investigating a Bereznik plot to kill the World President and the Astran Kaplan, Tina was killed. This resulted in Cleever's resignation from the Service following his smashing of the plot in order to give himself a free hand in tracking Tina's assassins. Once successful, he is recalled to the USS, becoming its Director in 2055 when S is promoted to the World Security Council, with responsibility for counter espionage.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Sir William Frazer and Lady Frazer settled on Mars in 2009.
- Stories based on Twenty One's adventures are taken from USS files by special permission of the World President and deal exclusively with his work between 2045 and 2055.
- No photograph has ever been taken of Twenty One or any USS agent, with all illustrations of him being artist's impressions.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Although primarily a crossover with 21, this story also contained concepts which originated in Fireball XL5.
- This story establishes that Twenty One's name prior to joining the Universal Secret Service was not Brent Cleever but Sir William Frazer. It was under this name that Twenty One made his only televised appearance, in the Thunderbirds episode 30 Minutes After Noon.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Twenty One was born in Kahra in 2018 and attended Kahra University. (PROSE: This is 2065)
- It was during Twenty One's defeat of the plan to kill World President Nikita Bandranaik and the 610th Kaplan that Tina Palamac lost her life. After taking charge of the Andromeda Project and smashing the plot, he resigned from the Universal Secret Service. (COMIC: Andromeda Or Die)
- After enacting his revenge, Cleever rejoined the USS. (COMIC: The Bitter Cold Dish, The Long Road Back)
- Twenty One became Director of the Universal Secret Service following S' promotion to the World Security Council. (COMIC: Revolution, PROSE: This is 2065 et al.)
