Rachel Becker
| This article is about the student in the Marvel comic. For the Animorph, see Rachel (Animorphs). |
Rachel Becker, is a human in Generation 1 continuity.
Rachel Becker is a freshman paleontology student studying at the Pacific Northwest University in Oregon. She believes in the ideals of science, putting the pursuit of knowledge above her own fears and safety - though these intentions are fairly well put to the test when giant robots get involved.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Exploring on her own for fossils, Rachel stubled across a path of broken trees and colossal footprints. In her excitement (having previously only found fossilised ferns and trilobites), she called her professor, Robert Paaswell, and his assistant, Marty, to help investigate her find. The professor agrees that they certainly appeared to be dinosaur footprints, but are part of an elaborate hoax due to their mechanicaly carved nature. Dissapointed, Rachel starts heading down the mountain as the sun sets, her mood quickly changing when she catches sight of the silhouette of a Pterodactyl. Professor Paaswell decides making camp wasn't such a bad idea after all.
That night the young student is lying awake, thinking of the mysterious shadow when she notices a bright light outside. Investigating, she is shocked to discover the light source is the massive Trypticon emerging from the space bridge. Fleeing in terror she trips over a log and loses her flashlight. Quickly regaining her composure she admonishes herself for losing her cool (noting Professor Paaswell wouldn't have), and resigns herself to wait out the rest of the night.
However Trypticon's attack on the Ark draws her attention, and without anything else to do she heads off to investigate. Before she reaches the battle site, she crosses paths with Grimlock who had wandered off from the other Dinobots on his own. Though initially shocked, Rachel reminds herself she is there to find out the source of the footprints, and scientifically observe whatever caused them. However the Autobot wanders off again before any science can occur.
Thrilled by her close encounter, Rachel failed to notice Wipe-Out, Trypticon's lackey, sneaking up behind her. Despite telling him to keep away she is easily captured and soon brought before the mighty Decepticon. When Trypticon announces his intention to destroy her she attempts to flee, but is stopped by Wipe-Out. Moments before being devoured she is saved when Grimlock leaps onto her attacker's head and bites a large chunk out of it. Diving for cover she watches as the Dinobots pummel the Decepticon until he is called back through the space bridge. As the Autobots disappear over the horizon Professor Paaswell and Marty join Rachel, drawn to the noise of battle themselves. When asked what had happened, Rachel rather cryptically replies that there weren't dinosaurs in the mountains, but "something much, much more..." King of the Hill!
Trivia
- There is a real Pacific Northwest University, but it is a health science faculty specialising in osteopathic care - not at all related to paleontology.
- Rachel hypothesises the footprints could belong to either a Triceratops or Stegasaurus; fossilised remains of both these dinosaurs are found in North America, so it is a reasonable conclusion.
