DUST

 

DUST

Real Name: Sooraya Qadir

First Appearance: New X-Men (Vol. 1) #133, October 2002

Powers: Dust possesses the mutant ability to convert the molecules of her body into a critical mass of silicon particles (sand) at will. She emits a concussive wave from within that blasts her mass out in all directions at high speeds. Her brain has attained a subliminal awareness of all of the granulated particles of her body and, through conscious effort, she can affect the degree of molecular cohesion between the numerous adjoining surfaces of her particles and thus cause locomotion of extreme volumes, down to the individual grains. She can also extend her conversion effect to the clothing she is wearing. As a result, she can disperse her body so that she is rendered invulnerable to physical attacks. Whenever she uses her power, it automatically creates an explosive sandblast effect. She has learned to project sand particles outward at varying high speeds, allowing her to flay flesh or propel her dust form through the air, creating high-velocity dust storms.

After she explodes, Dust's sandy mass remains animated and pulls itself back together until she has reconstituted herself back into her human form. She also reverts to her human form when rendered unconscious. Each particle of her dust form can extract air, allowing her to remain this state for some time, but she cannot survive indefinitely without food or water in this state. Telepaths have difficulty detecting Dust in her converted state, and even the most powerful telepaths require electronic aids to detect her. Temperatures over 3,400° Fahrenheit can fuse her impure silicate composition body into glass, and her dust form can be dispersed by wind, water, or telekinesis. Dust later honed her power so that she can convert into or maintain her sandy state without having to employ the sandblast effect.