Aaron Stefflin (Cataclysmic Gerosha)

Aaron Stefflin is the main protagonist of Dozerfleet Comics Sims 4 comic Blood Over Water, part of The Gerosha Chronicles. He is mostly a direct analog to his Earth-G5 counterpart, from the original miniseries.

Early life
Aaron and Mark were both born August 9th of 1985. They led unassuming lives together and apart at various points; hearing about most of the madness happening in the world outside their bubble of an existence near Detroit, yet never imagining they'd be dragged into a conflict with it. While Mark became interested in the business route early one, Aaron became more interested in music industry and video production. It was around late 2006 that Aaron decided to leave behind his community college, and to start attending Ferris State in Big Rapids. From there, he met Meredith Celestine in class, and the two of them quickly fell in love.

He also tried to make time to be close to Mark, who had taken a job at the Sleet Mountain bottling plant in nearby Stanwood. However, he was unsure of Mark's best friend Chris. All the same, Aaron would sometimes visit places with Chris and Mark - mildly annoyed by their recurring debauched antics.

Meeting Monica
Aaron befriends Monica Shelly in a biology class in the spring semester at Ferris in 2009. The two of them bond over a fascination with true crime shows - unaware they'd soon be living in a crime drama themselves. He works on a project with her, as well as her other teammate Vance Lingolin. Unbeknownst to Aaron, Vance was also a part-time employee at Sleet Mountain.

He also doesn't immediately put together that Monica was using the biology class secondarily as an opportunity to find new casual sex partners. She tries to suggest at one point to Aaron her willingness to sleep with him; but he turns the gesture down because of his faith and morals. She respects him for it, and the two remain good friends.

Supporting Meredith
Meredith's Christian contemporary / country music singer aspirations become a major source of bonding between her and Aaron, given that her songs emphasize theology over emotion. After three years at Ferris, Aaron becomes to Wanda like the son she never had. She drops hints that Aaron and Meredith should get married. In the fall of 2008, while Meredith was reading up the news on some gal on campus that got committed to the Gum Arabic Mental Hospital in Texas; Aaron showed up and surprised Meredith with a ring - to which she said yes.

Aaron uses his Music Industry Management major at Ferris to put himself into a position where he can one day be Meredith's producer - or her agent. His relationship with her has a direct impact on both his faith and on his personality, further cementing both.

The tubing party
Aaron attends a tubing party near the Muskegon River in late August, right before the beginning of his final semester at Ferris. He tries to advise Mark, serving as a sort of conscience. Alas, Mark proves to be careless, and disregards a lot of Aaron's warnings. He leaves when Chris and Mark start ignoring him and the tubing fest completely, to find drunken college girls to seduce. He is almost sexually assaulted by a drunken Vanessa Fogsdorn, who comes on to him very strongly. However, he is rescued when Mark steps in and offers to sleep with Vanessa instead - and she gladly obliges.

The Celestines leave Big Rapids
Aaron gets to help Meredith and Wanda load up their moving van, as the latter two decide to leave Big Rapids permanently and move back to Nashville. While there, he meets a young Candi Flippo, as Meredith's 4H friend Erin has arrived with Candi, Miriam, and Marina to assist with the move. He offers moral support to Meredith when her memories of being assaulted by record producer Tobey Moffin haunt and discourage her.

Hearing rumors of Hebbleskin activity
In mid-September, both Vance and Mark begin to notice that Clyde shows more and more disdain for transparency. Mark shares his concerns with Aaron that "the new management" seems to be hiding something. Around this same time, Vance and Monica begin to notice suspicious vehicles in the Big Rapids area; but no one seems able or willing to explain these vehicles. Monica shares her concerns with Aaron about it, and he postulates that it could be the Hebbleskins. However, the only lead he has on why the Hebbleskins would be in Big Rapids, is that they must have heard rumors that there were Flippos visiting the Celestine household. He later discovers some strange vans and crews investigating 514 Marion Ave. - well after Wanda and Meredith have moved out, seemingly confirming his suspicions that the Hebbleskins were looking for Flippos.

Aaron asks Monica if she believes the Hebbleskins may have anything to do with Sleet Mountain's new management; and Monica admits to her relationship with Vance. She claims that the two of them haven't heard anything which might confirm or deny; but that all of them should exercise caution. The next day, Aaron asks a DPS officer casually walking around campus if she'd seen any Meethlites behaving suspiciously in the area, to which she denies seeing anything of the sort.

Vance goes missing
The disappearance of Vance happens shortly after he leaves a phone call to Monica, professing his love and warning her of what he must do - and that someone's chasing him. Monica races to the scene, but finds that the damage is already done. To her dismay, the news twists the story to sound like insurance fraud - in spite blood all over the scene having spilled into the grass that didn't get burned! Regardless of this, and Monica's own surviving scene evidence, no one except for Aaron seems intent on believing her that Vance was murdered. Aaron offers to help her in whatever way he can; but states that the best he can do at that moment is ask for Mark to look for signs of anything suspicious.

As Monica becomes obsessed with the case, and depressed that Vance is gone, she turns to her backup friend-with-benefits, Hank Froli, for comfort. Aaron advises Monica that sleeping with Hank is not the answer to her grief; but she ignores his advice.

Mark becomes cryptic
As the days progress, Aaron makes notes of whatever breakthroughs Monica is able to give him. He conveys his concerns with Mark; and notices that Mark begins admitting that he finds the new management increasingly shady. Mark promises to look into it more. He also leaves Aaron a message about how they need to plan a "fishing expedition," and to "check under the carpet under the bed" if "things go south." Aaron writes this down, but is initially confused by what it all means. He tries calling Chris, but Chris denies knowing anything.

Finding Mark's apartment ransacked
In mid-October of 2009, Ashley's file on Rev. Campelli goes missing. This prompts Mark to begin investigating further into what would have led to Vance going missing. What Mark uncovers, however, is the hidden murder porn video archive that Clyde had been keeping in a room at the Sleet Mountain plant. Fearing the excessive heat, Mark instead decides to steal evidence of the cleanup fraud scandal - and hope that the government will discover the illegal porn room by accident. Not being as careful as he thought he was, Mark is seen on a security camera making photocopies of key documents.

Mark plants the copies in a fake folder, and then takes the original documents and folder home inside an envelope - which he later stamps with a "Confidential" label and hides below a strip of carpet beneath his bed in his apartment. Clyde suspects which folder Mark may be making copies of, and has George and Kyle try to bully Mark into returning the original file. When Mark refuses, this leads to a deadly confrontation.

Earlier that evening before the confrontation, Mark arranges officially to go on the fishing expedition with Aaron - and to talk about the envelope he'd been storing below the bed. His tone suggested that "fishing expedition" was code; but Aaron prepared his bait and tackle - just in case.

Aaron arrives at Mark's apartment when there's no response on the phone. However, he discovers the hidden folder amidst a ransacked apartment - with the bedsheets missing. He leaves the apartment scared, trying to ensure that anyone who might be tailing him quickly loses his trail. His instincts prove to have been justified, as he was unknowingly seen leaving the apartment by George and Kyle - who mistake him for Mark.

Difficulty finding help
Aaron begins calling everyone that he can think of that may have a connection to Mark that appears in Mark's phone. No one at Sleet Mountain, not even Chris nor Ashley, answers the phone. He tries calling Vanessa Fogsdorn, only to hear her voice and remember her as the woman who tried to hit on him at the park earlier that year. However, Vanessa proves to be of no help.

He attempts to go to the police with his suspicions that foul play is involved in Mark's disappearance; but the officer he speaks to at DPS turns Aaron away. Frustrated, Aaron confides in Monica, and she agrees to use a new ink type separation technique to reveal redacted text on the Sleet Mountain "confidential" files, in the hopes of helping Aaron reveal what is underneath. She urges Aaron to learn whatever else he can about Sleet Mountain; but to watch his back while doing so. And to trust no one at the company - not even Chris!

Encounter with Chris
The next day, Aaron successfully contacts Chris' phone, asking him if he's free to meet up at the local Biggby later that day. Chris agrees to spare a few minutes, but is immediately suspicious that Aaron might know more than he's letting on. Aaron claims that "the carpet under the bed" was a riddle that Mark kept telling him, and wouldn't explain what he meant. Chris suspects this was supposed to be a clue; but also knows that it would be dangerous to return to the apartment and check under Mark's bed for the missing envelope. Chris shares with Aaron that his one romantic interest that went missing at work, Ashley, frequented that Biggby store - noting that it would be the one thing she missed most if she ever left Big Rapids for good. Chris acting uneasy becomes a clue to Aaron that Chris may also know more than he's willing to admit. The two of them part ways without getting much resolved.

The attack on Spring Street
George discovers Aaron's car parked in the driveway of 516 N. Michigan Ave. He puts a tracer on it, then flees the scene, still believing the car to be Mark's. The following evening, Aaron contacts Meredith, and asks her if she'd support him doing whatever it took to find Mark - even if it could get him killed! Meredith asks what he means, and he explains to her that Monica suspects the new management at Sleet Mountain to be crooked.

Aaron states to Meredith that he believes Mark's disappearance was foul play, and further bemoans that Monica seems to be the only party outside of himself willing to investigate. Everyone else - including the police - either refuses to say anything, or doesn't know anything. No one seems interested. Meredith informs Aaron that he needs to do the right thing; whatever that looks like - but keep her informed. She urges him to finish graduating, and then to get out of Big Rapids as soon as practically possible. He can always accept an internship in Nashville. She promises to chase leads for him to that effect.

He notices, however, a strange presence of large numbers of black vans in his neighborhood. Given his proximity to the police station, he finds it odd that they are so brazen with their presence. Little does he understand that these are Gleeful-N'-Young vans, ready to round up women and children for Clyde's trafficking operation!

One evening later, he receives a call from Monica: men in vans came and abducted several of her neighbors. Hank is dead, and she can't reach Betsy's phone to inquire about Annabelle. As police arrive on the scene, Aaron tells Monica to remain calm, and explain her situation to the police as best she can. He receives a collect call from her the next day, from the Mecosta County Jail. He promises to resume work with her as soon as she's released. He asks if there's a way to pay her bail; but is confused when she tells him she hasn't been formally charged with anything - and is being held without bail. She promises to call again when she learns if there are any charges - or if she's released. Aaron feels the proverbial walls closing in on him, as everyone close to him is being embroiled in some controversy that he can barely comprehend.

Abducted
On the same evening as the day that Monica visits her sister's house, shortly after getting out of jail, Aaron tries to call George's number. He attempts to see if George might know anything. George mistakes the voice for that of Mark, and suggests they meet up to discuss "something important;" yet he wouldn't specify. Aaron tells George to meet with him at the McDonald's in town if they wish to talk.

Instead, George tracks down Aaron's car in traffic, and he fires a tranquilizer dart through the window - as he is under orders from Clyde to interrogate before killing, in order to learn of how Chris could possibly have failed to kill Mark. The car is given an EMP blast, resulting in the car crashing. Aaron awakens inside the Ewigleben Sports complex basketball court, with George and Kyle interrogating him. A security staff member overhears the commotion, and his investigation leads to George and Kyle chasing after him with their guns. The showdown is swift, and Kyle is wounded with a nick to his left forearm. However, George kills the security guard. Amidst the scuffle, however, Aaron is able to free himself and escape.

Testing the water tubes
Aaron tests the pond water in the pond indicated by George and Kyle, and then infiltrates the building with Mark's old security card. He heads directly to Chris' office, and inquires Chris if he knows anything. Chris feigns ignorance; and instead manipulates Aaron into saying where he and Monica will be later that evening. Aaron's mistake, however, is in trusting Chris with the truth.

Monica later meets up with Aaron at a study room in the Starr Building, to test the water tubes Aaron supplies her with for pollutants. Early results suggest to her that she needs to get the remaining samples into an actual lab at Ferris as soon as she can. However, the two of them are interrupted by Chris and Kyle waving guns in their faces.

Capture by Sleet Mountain
The two are escorted to an SUV, where the villains taunt them about how they're about to die. Aaron pleads for Monica's life, but is mocked for trying by George and Kyle both. Chris insists that Aaron's "snooping around" is to blame for what's about to happen next. Aaron asks Monica to use her family as an argument to plead for her own life. But to everyone's surprise, she refuses. Instead, she reveals that she leaked to someone on the dark web a link about all the evidence she had on Vance - along with copies of her copies of the paperwork that Aaron shared with her. She argues that the cat is out of the proverbial bag already; and that killing her and Aaron will be for nothing. She also points out that Gleeful-N'-Young already destroyed her family, so she doesn't have one to plead on behalf of.

When Aaron tries to plead that the three of them have bigger issues to worry about than two college students, given what Monica stated, George and Kyle urge him to keep his mouth shut. As Chris leads Aaron to the execution spot near Lot 47, George escorts Monica. Kyle tries to shoot first, but his gun jams. With the only remaining gun, Chris knocks out Aaron and Monica, and pretends to shoot them. He makes sure they're just out of the light, so George and Kyle can't see what he's doing. Chris, to the surprise of both George and Kyle, turns around and turns the gun on them. With both George and Kyle dead, Chris leaves a note for Aaron - along with evidence of the Gleeful-N'-Young illegal porn operation. He then flees the scene.

Aaron awakens next to Monica, and the two discover Chris' increasingly incriminating evidence against Clyde and Sleet Mountain. The duo in the field are appalled to learn about Gleeful-N'-Young having a role in Sleet Mountain, meaning that the abduction of Annabelle Shelly and the Sleet Mountain murders were linked. Monica is distraught to learn that the report only makes mention of the truck transporting Annabelle being intercepted; but provides no further clues as to who eventually made off with her. Aaron states that he and Monica can work together to solve that case next; but Monica insists that Aaron instead go to Meredith - and do his part to take Clyde down! There's no guarantee that Annabelle will ever be found. But if Clyde gets away, Annabelle being lost will have been for nothing.

Turning over the evidence
Upon analysis, Aaron and Monica learn that Officer Yorming is a Gleeful-N'-Young plant. Monica decides that her safest bet is to go to Lansing - and to turn over her evidence to the state level investigations bureau. She gives Aaron a hug goodbye, thanking him for everything. She warns him that they have to part ways after that - and that there's no guarantee they'll ever see each other again.

As soon as he is able to, Aaron leaves Big Rapids, fleeing to Tennessee with the evidence Chris provided him. Monica shares some of her findings, with Aaron as well. He travels alone with the evidence to see Meredith, only returning to Big Rapids to end his lease and attend his graduation ceremony. Meredith and Wanda help Aaron hide from any further pursuit from Sleet Mountain or Gleeful-N'-Young. Meanwhile, they let Aaron give his evidence against Clyde to the FBI. The FBI, IRS, and EPA quickly descend on Sleet Mountain.

However, a corrupt FBI agents tips Clyde off that these agencies are coming. They arrive, only to discover that Clyde has vanished. Aaron considers transferring to a school not far from Nashville, so he can start his life over and continue his education in the field. He and Meredith eventually marry, and he gains a friend in the form of Ashley Phillips - after Chris rescues her from a Gleeful-N'-Young brothel.

Disruption of the 4H
While Aaron and Meredith are attempting to work with Erin Flippo on a project for the Nashville 4H in 2015, the city comes under attack by the Hebbleskins. Aaron, Meredith, and Erin are able to get out of town. However, they nearly get trapped in the Morton Mountain tunnel as they're fleeing - when a mysterious figure stalks them and bombs the tunnel. The trio abandon their car, and the pursuer loses track of them when they flee into the nearby woods.

They return to their car once they are confident that their final pursuer as given up hope of finding them. They make it to Sevierville, then check in at the Mountain Vista Inn. TV footage reveals that the Flippos and Stefflins were, in fact, Hebbleskin targets in Tennessee - especially in regards to a longstanding plan to get revenge on them for playing a role in bringing down Clyde's Big Rapids operation. A SCALLOP-captured Hebbleskin operative confesses as much. News also makes clear that the Nashville attack was not only against those families, but against others in the area known to have been part of an anti-Hebbleskin front. Worse: the Nashville story barely manages to overshadow coverage of Gerosha being taken over - with a new dome put over it. Erin soon realizes that this means that Candi and Miriam will have to fend for themselves without her, as Imaki likewise hasn't yet returned from Japan.

Aaron vows that once it's safe, he and Meredith will do what they can to return Erin to Gerosha.

Moving to Texas
As Halal Affadidah became more aggressive about establishing his Ameristan prison state, he gave several the chance to register as Toklisanans, Netheeli, or Chimericans, and flee - or risk brutal life under his caliphate. Later, Affadidah would pull a bait-and-switch, denying registered Toklisanans the chance to escape Ameristan. Right before the switch, however, Aaron and Meredith were given leaked documents courtesy of the Navyrope Society and Padua Network's own "Roachline," detailing a hidden timetable for when Affadidah intended to renege on his promise of smooth transition for emigration out of his caliphate.

Aaron quickly informs Wanda, Ashley, and Ashley's new husband Wally of the information Roachline shared with him. The Fobel and Stefflin families make haste to make their exile from Tenessee to Texas; and arrive shortly before the Wall gets erected around Ameristan.

As such, Aaron and his immediate remaining family and friends are spared from getting involved in the Onslaught of the Border that wipes out a majority of the Exodus Agenda. Aaron and Meredith couple do their part to survive in their new Texan home, eventually having two young boys and a pet badger named Savage.

Personality
Aaron's religious and moral convictions are more explicit in this version than previous versions; and this both helps and hurts him in his bid for survival. He is often dutiful to a fault. He is shown to have a romantic interest, albeit one who lives a distance away from him. It was seen as necessary that Aaron be given some sort of romantic pursuit, especially to show how his choices in how to handle romantic leads differs from those of his brother Mark.

Some more background is also given to his friendship with Monica. He may not approve of Monica's past activities, but he is sympathetic to her cause of bringing justice to those she believes are responsible for Vance's disappearance. When Mark also goes missing, they have a mutual quest to expose what's really happening at Sleet Mountain.

Aaron is shown to be nervous, cautious, and otherwise a friend to most living things. He is not amused by Mark's and Chris' "player" antics, especially during the beach party along the Muskegon River. However, he does his best not to appear "uppity" and self-righteous about his disapproval.

He is gracious when dealing with Monica, and explaining why his path of love with Meredith is superior to her path with Vance. Due to how kind he is, as well as her own openness to learn from mistakes, she becomes very accepting of him. They only part ways when forced to, as Aaron needs to flee to Tennessee and meet up with Meredith if he wishes to take down Clyde. Like his miniseries counterpart, Aaron is reluctant to show even a tinge of malice toward any living creature. That includes the very Sleet Mountain villains he feels a need to expose to the FBI - even when said villains are in the throes of trying to kill him! Aaron's clothing style is much more casual than Mark's, emphasizing that he's the more prudish of the two brothers.

This version of Aaron is slightly more intelligent than his original miniseries counterpart - requiring his adversaries to be that much more ruthless.

Trivia

 * Primarily superficial details were altered from the original miniseries, to make it more obvious that Aaron and Mark chose two contrasting lifestyles.
 * Aaron is given a love interest, and doesn't stutter as often in this version.
 * He is also better about controlling his weight than Mark, whereas they had identical physiques in the original.
 * He is otherwise not altered that greatly from the miniseries, though he is portrayed as using more common sense. To compensate, his adversaries are also made smarter.  This forces him to still rely on luck to get out of several situations.
 * Just like with his Classic Gerosha counterpart, this Aaron was staying at the rental home of 516 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids during the events of Blood Over Water.