The alien race known as the Korbinites were a highly advanced civilization living in relative peace in a strange area of space known as the Burning Galaxy. While generally peaceful, they maintained a military tradition and produced truly fearsome weaponry and warriors. The one who would come to be known to the galaxy at large as Beta Ray Bill was an excellent example of this tradition, indeed, dire circumstances would soon prove him to be the best of the best.
Unbeknownst to the Korbinites, events a dimension away would prove to have a devastating impact on their civilization. The fire-demon, Surtur, lord of Muspelheim, was reforging his sword, Twilight, and tapped into the raw energy of the Burning Galaxy to assist in this task, as well as to break down the dimensional barriers between his realm and the dimension of Midgard. He succeeded, destabilizing the area on a cosmic scale and allowing hordes of his fire-demons to pour through a rift generated there, threatening the Korbinites. While capable of defending themselves, the Korbinites soon became aware of the fact that their entire region of space would soon be rendered utterly uninhabitable. Their leaders decided to evacuate the population in a fleet of ships, with many of their people in suspended animation for the trip. However, they also decided they would need warriors of immense power to protect them from the demons.
Their first protector was known as Alpha Ray. While 'he' had organic components, he was really more of a hihgly advanced robot with a tactical AI and no will or realy mind of his own. Extremely powerful, he was also unstable, prone to overheating and without direction, not very controllable. Shelving the project and storing Alpha Ray in a 'meta-orb', the leadership then decided that they needed a champion with a mind and spirit of their own, and called upon their people to provide one.
It was announced that a contest would be held, not for prizes, but to find the most worthy. Bill was one of the first to step up, a career soldier, he thought only of helping his people in their darkest hour. The tests were known to be extraordinarily difficult and dangerous, all who entered knew many of them could be lethal. There were grueling physical challenges, psychological tests that left many dead or insane, Bill weathered them all. In the end, only a few remained, and they all knew the terrible, final price to be paid. Korbinite scientists had used all their knowledge to engineer cybernetic bodies of terrible power, monstrous forms derived from the fiercest predators they knew of, to their minds, their very essences, would be transferred. Maybe it spoke of a strength beyond that of body or will, maybe it was a spiritual strength, but when the agonizing process was done, only Bill had survived. His name was legally changed to 'Beta Ray Bill' and he was assigned a fully sapient starship, Skuttlebutt, as a partner. Skuttlebutt actually contained technology similar to that of Bill's new body, making them "brothers", after a fashion. The exodus began, and Bill was placed into coldsleep, to await the signal that he would be needed.
With the Korbinites in stasis, Bill was awakened periodically so that he and Skuttlebutt might battle the Muspelheim demons when they overtook the fleet. In addition to simply fleeing for their lives, the sleet was also seeking a new homeworld to settle upon. Skuttlebutt, with Bill aboard, flew ahead of the fleet as a vanguard. Eventually, their course took them rather near Earth's system, where a S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite picked up the massively-armed alien vessel Nick Fury contacted a spaceworthy hero to investigate, The Mighty Thor.
As Thor approached the fleet, Skuttlebutt's sensors detected energy readings very similar to those of the demons (being from a dimension connected to Muspelheim) and woke Bill to confront the threat. The battle which ensued was an honest mistake, and Thor was stunned to find that the monstrous Bill was his equal in combat. Unfortunately for the thunder god, he was currently enchanted so that should Mjolnir leave his hand for 60 seconds, he would revert to his mortal identity of Donald Blake. Bill managed this feat, and took up the walking stick Mjolnir had become, thinking to use "the demon's" weapon against him. Unable to make it work, he slammed it against the hull in disgust, and the unbelievable ocurred.
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.". Beta Ray Bill, despite his appearance, was noble, self-sacrificing, brave, honourable, and forthright. Until that moment, no other being save Odin himself had been able to lift Mighty Mjolnir. Finding himself garbed in a strange, alien variant of Thor's costume, Bill then found himself summoned to Asgard by a spell meant to target Mjolnir's wielder. Imagine the surprise of the Asgardians when Bill, not Thor, arrived, holding the hammer. Quickly summoning Blake and restoring him to his true form, Odin was faced with a dilemma. Bill politely but firmly stated that he had won the mighty weapon in fair combat and needed it to help protect his people. In his wisdom, the All-Father decreed that Thor and Bill would do battle in firey Skartheim, with the winner claiming Mjolnir for his own.
The battle was epic, with the two mighty champions shaking the pillars of heaven in their struggle. But in the end, though they struck each other senseless, Bill's alien physiology was more adapted to the intense heatm and he awakened well before the Thunderer. Saving Thor from slipping into a lava flow, both heroes were returned and Bill was declared the winner. Interestingly, Odin may have chosen that specific battleground to test Bill's worthiness and to teach Thor a well-needed lesson in humility. His self-repair systems and organic components taxed to their limits by the battle, Bill convalesced, and learned much of ther Asgardians, and started to become close with the Lady Sif, despite the fact that each appeared quite alien to the other. Learning of Thor's bond with the mystical weapon, his birthright, Bill was wracked with guilt over his need and his victory. He asked Odin for a solution. Seeing that indeed, the hammer had chosen well, Odin again did the unprecedented.
Contacting Eitri, the great dwarven smith who had forged Mjolnir, Odin asked a great work of him. Eitri replied that his price was for an Asgardian woman to defeat the dwarven champion, Throgg, in battle, and if she lost, she would belong to Throgg. Sif was chosen, and bested the gigantic dwarf (yes, gigantic dwarf). It was a trick. Throgg had been terrorizing his fellows due to his immense size, and being beaten by a woman, would scarcely show his face again. Gladdened by his people's freedom, Eitri forged a masterpiece, which Odin then imbued with mighty magicks - the uru hammer Stormbreaker!
As Surtur's forces finally broke free, the sword Twilight reforged, Bill accompanied the Asgardians into battle. Now, with two champions of Thor's power to lead them, Thor headed to Asgard itself to engage the fire giant, while Bill and Sif journeyed into space to save Bill's people. While there, Sif learned of Bill's origin. When Surtur reached Asgard itself, Odin summoned Bill and Sif back to Earth. They were given command of Asgard's forces on Earth, much to the confusion of some human military leaders. The battle was fearsome, with the Casket of Ancient Winters being opened, the Rainbow Bridge being shattered, Ymir being freed, and Odin eventually carrying Surtur into a fissure in dimensions.
Thor, unable to accept that his father was lost, left on a journey to find his spirit, leaving Sif to rule Asgard. She asked Bill to stay and help her lead the Asgardians in their recovery from the war. During this time, they grew very close.
Due to the inconvenience of Thor's 60-second limitation, that enchantment, in modified form, was transferred to Stormbreaker, allowing Bill to return to his original Korbinite form when he wished. He and Sif spent some time on Earth, where Bill aided the Galadorian Spaceknight, Rom, against the Dire Wraiths, fought the Titanium Man, and the powerful dark elf, Kurse. Eventually, despite his feelings for Sif, Bill felt the need to return to his people and lead them to a safe haven, and with a heavy heart, he did so.
While journeying with the fleet, they encountered Ego, the Living Planet, who attacked the fleet, unprovoked. Bill, using a combination of his raw power and some scientific knowledge, managed to defeat Ego, who explained that the propulsion unit attached to him by Galactus was drivinh im mad. In an act of generosity, despite the fact that Ego had destroyed several ships, Bill had the fleet destroy the propulsion unit. In gratitude, Ego offered to become their new home, but smarting from the losses, Bill elected to move on.
But Bill would not stay with his people for too long. Receiving a summons to Asgard, he returned to aid them in their battle against the power-mad Egyptian god, Seth. Shortly thereafter, a suitable world was finally located, the fleet landed, the Korbinites were awakened, and New Korbin was named. However, despite being their protector, Bill found himself dwarn away from his new world and his people once more, this time to aid fellow hammer-wielder Eric Masterson (Thunderstrike) and Dargo Ktor, an alternate-future Thor, against the time-traveling Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man, then this "Thor Corps" also fought Demonstaff, summoned by Zarrko.
The dimension-hopper and time-traveler drew the attention of Kargul, ruler of the hidden dimension of Elsewhen, who banished the hammer-wielders to the past in an attempt to stop the destruction of all reality. After a wild series of events, Thor, Thunderstrike, Dargo, and Bill confronted the mad scientist and his army of mutates, eventually defeating him and repairing a dimensional rift that was actually causing Eternity pain and damage (as well as causing crises on infinite worlds) with a little help from Demonstaff's former lover.
Now all this time away began to annoy the Korbinite leaders, as well as the fact that some members of the populace had almost begun to worship their champion. The leaders demanded he surrender Stormbreaker, since he had acquired it when performing other tasks than his duty. Ever faithful, Bill did so, but the Korbinites soon found that no one else who tried (an important fact, it was placed out so they had to come to try, meaning those who came likely only sought power) could transform it from a walking stick to an enchanted hammer.
Bill waited, then reclaimed it when Thor was overcome with madness, working alongside cosmic beings like Adam Warlock and Thanos to stop and help his brother in arms. He was weakened in battle, then captured by Galactus's creation, Tyrant, to be used as a power source. Bill was aided by Tyrant's other captives the Silver Surfer, Ganymede, Jack of Hearts, Gladiator, Terrax and Morg, and finally escaped Tyrant when Galactus forced him to stand down.
Due to his leaders' trepidation about his role as their protector and his own need to see his people build their own future and not look to him to solve all their problems, Beta Ray Bill has decided to remain away from New Korbin, but "on call" should his people need their champion. He has contacted S.W.O.R.D. and returned to Earth, deciding to split his time between Asgard, where he is welcome, and Midgard, which Thor so loves.
PROUD: Beta Ray Bill is, quite literally, the pinnacle of his people. He was the best of the best, the ultimate soldier and champion, tested beyond limit, willing to sacrifice anything for them. Then he bested Thor in battle, was proven the third being (aside from Odin and Thor) to be worthy of Mjolnir, battled ancient demons and cosmic powers, and so on. He is justifiably proud of who he is and what he has done. While not ranging into full-blown arrogance, he does not for a moment descend into false humility or downplay his achievements.
NOBLE: This defines him. Bill is as noble as they come. He protects the weak, he fights for just causes, he will give his all for his friends, he will never surrender, he will do what is right at all costs, he will inspire with his words and deeds, and he is keenly aware of the needs of others.
INTROSPECTIVE: Despite being a true warrior born, Bill is surprisingly thoughtful about himself, others, people's place in the universe, morality, and the like. His life has been very complex, and rather than just soldier on through it, he has given a great deal of deep thought about the hows and whys of it all. This has served him well, letting him deal with a raft of traumatic events and allowing him to focus on helping others while maintaining some degree of inner peace.
FEARSOME: While generally noble and upstanding, when Bill is goaded or angered, he allows himself to unleash the full measure of his fury against the target of his wrath. To say he is intimidating is understating things. He has cowed gods, demons, and cosmic entities. He seems to know no fear, (but does show concern for others) he unhesitatingly enters battle against incredible odds (though not foolishly), tends to easily assume command, and often draws fire out of proportion to the (admittedly incredible) threat he represents due to this.
ADVENTUROUS: Despite the fact that he isn't overly vocal about this. Bill possesses a thirst for adventure and purpose. He is often seeking out noble causes, deadly threats, or others in need. He is restless to some extent, with a wanderlust honed by his time traveling among the stars. Though initially trapped in a monster's body, the great power he received did help lessen the sting somewhat. He enjoys the exercise of this power for a worthy cause and few things are as satisfying as testing himself by dealing out righteous justice against a powerful foe.
LARGER THAN LIFE: Bill has been on awesome adventures through time, space, and dimensions. After his transformation into a cyborg champion by his people, he coped with this drastic change in part by looking at the bigger picture and what his actions meant to his people and their future. Starting out with a bit of a tendency toward the grandiloquent, the great deal of time he has spent around the Asgardians has -not- helped at all. He carries himself and speaks in a manner that is somewhat poetic, formal, and grandiose. He swears to do things, he travels the length of the universe for his friends, he throws himself gladly against cosmic forces in the cause of righteousness, he uses more than his share of ten-dollar words, and while he doesn't wallow in the "thees and thous" like some native-born Asgardians, he does throw out the occasional "'tis", "naught", and "mayhaps".
This isn't all bad, the fact that he is actually a mighty and noble champion lets this often be very inspiring and induce others to see beyond his monstrous appearance. It has helped smooth over some very difficult situations (like his claim to Mjolnir and his honest expressions of guilt about it). It has also been seen as notably attractive to the right sort of person as well. He can come off as something of a great, questing knight of old which, considering he is a high-tech, alien, cybernetic warrior, can actually put less advanced beings at ease around him.
OVERVIEW: Beta Ray Bill is an unusual mix as his powers derive from several sources. In his base Korbinite form, Bill is still somewhat super-strong and particularly super-durable by human standards, able to perform feats of strength like ripping a car door off its hinges or survive a multi-story fall without major injury. His incredible skill at combat helps him perform feats beyond what one might expect even from that. However, he spent a great deal of time in an engineered cyborg body with sufficient physical might to battle Thor on even terms, then that body was augmented by Asgardian magic.
In his "Thor form", Bill's body is essentially his engineered cyborg body with an "overlay" that makes it akin to a powerful Asgardian (specifically Thor), as if someone took Thor and then changed him along the lines of the engineered form.
Finally, there is Stormbreaker, Bill's mystical hammer. Many of his powers depend on it for their use, but some of them seem to be inherent to Bill nevertheless. For example, while he normally uses Stormbreaker to transform from his original form to his "Thor form" and back again, he could use Mjolnir to transform, despite the fact that the enchantment to do so was transferred from Mjolnir to Stormbreaker, or his senses, while enhanced on their own, can be channeled through Stormbreaker to track objects through time or dimensions.
TRANSFORMATION:
Beta Ray Bill possesses the ability, through the use of Stormbreaker (or Mjolnir), to transform from his original Korbinite form (once thought forever lost to him) to a form that is a Thor-based version of his engineered cyborg body. Both forms are very natural to him by now, and he spends a great deal of time in his "Thor form" without any undue stress or ill effects whatsoever. By tamping Stormbreaker upon a surface and willing the change (in a blast of lightning), he returns to his original Korbinite form, and Stormbreaker takes the form of a simple, wooden walking stick. While it appears normal, it is still virtually indestructable, but its other powers save transforming Bill back to his Asgardian-cyborg form are inaccessible, even to him, until it returns to hammer shape.
While it can be lifted by anyone in that shape, it cannot be used unless they are worthy (see Resources: STORMBREAKER).
STRENGTH:
Beta Ray Bill, when untransformed, is still stronger than any human could be. However, when in his cyborg-Asgardian form, his might is almost incalculable for a physical being. When he first fought Thor, he managed to get Mjolnir away from him for 60 seconds, when they fought again in Skartheim, after Bill had been transformed into his "Thor form", he actually beat the Thunder God unconscious in battle, though he was also knocked out and greatly injured in the process, he recovered first (See Power: DURABILITY AND HEALING).
Bill can lift over 100 tons with relative ease, but his true upper limit is currently unknown. He has struck the Living Planet, Ego, with enough force to cause damage that could be seen from space. He could beat the Silver Surfer into unconsciousness. Using Stormbreaker, he could dent Galactus's armour. Any feat of raw might that Thor can accomplish, it is a good bet Bill can match. While he lacks Thor's belt of strength, he can potentially channel the power of his internal energy sources into even greater feats of strength, at the potential cost of damaging some of his internal systems.
Of note is the fact that, like Thor, Beta Ray Bill often holds back from the full use of his strength out of concern for not killing his foes or, if that is not an issue, laying waste to his surroundings.
DURABILITY AND HEALING:
Perhaps even moreso than his incredible strength, Beta Ray Bill is a being of unfathomable durability. As a Korbinite man, he could survive a several story fall without serious injury, in his original cyborg body he traded blows with the Mighty Thor, in his Thor-form he is all but invulnerable to most forms of damage that are not highly esoteric or cosmically powerful. He can stand in the face of an attack by a Herald of Galactus, he could withstand the distortion of being near the event horizon of two black holes, he could be blasted through a planetoid, destroying it, and continue fighting. He could stand upon a world as it is ripped asunder and survive.
This is not to say he cannot be injured. He has been made to bleed, he has been struck unconscious, but the force it takes to do so is normally either overwhelmingly mystical or cosmic in scope. In addition, due to both his Asgardian-like nature and his self-repair systems, he heals from injuries at great speed. He is no Wolverine, but equivalent injuries that would lay a human up for weeks take Bill only days to heal (case in point, his battle with Thor in Skartheim, he recovered in a few days from a full-on, no-holds-barred battle with -Thor-).
It also seems that transforming from his original form to his Thor-form heals all injuries the original form had taken, allowing him to immediately operate at full strength. This does -not- seem to function in the other direction.
STAMINA AND IMMUNITIES:
Beta Ray Bill's stamina as a "mere" cyborg was astonishing. He was able to operate at high capacity for days. After his mystical enhancement, he is all but tireless. He can fight for days on end, and is only worn down by truly epic feats of power. Upon his first encounter with the Asgardians, he battled Thor twice, recovered, defended his fleet, fought on Earth against Surtur's and Ymir's forces, and helped repatriate the Asgardians, all without any real breaks or downtime, operating without any apparent problems whatsoever. His cyborg body had a highly efficient internal power source, augmented as he is now, he does not need to eat, breathe, or sleep, is immune all known terrestrial diseases, does not age, and can operate under extremes of pressure, in the vacuum of space, underwater, or exposed to a star without the benefit of an atmosphere in the way. Under normal circumstances, he only eats, drinks, or sleeps when he wishes to. Oddly, he can also -communicate- in space, not so odd for an advanced cyborg, but many Asgardians can as well.
Of special note is his resistance to heat. The Korbinites lived in "The Burning Galaxy" and were adapted to higher heat levels than humans. After Bill's second battle with Thor, the volcanic heat of molten Skartheim actually helped -revive- him before the Thunder God. He could brush up against a star's corona in space and not have too many worries. Needless to say, it would take truly unholy extremes of heat to start damaging him.
Finally, electricity also bears special note. His original cyborg body was thoroughly shielded against typical EMPs and electrical attacks (as seen when he first fought Thor) but as another Lord of Lightning, he can channel tremendous amounts of power through Stormbreaker and himself with only an invigorating tingle. It isn't clear what sort of output it would take to actually do him any damage in terms of pure electricity.
SENSES:
Beta Ray Bill had some exceptional senses incorporated into his cyborg body even before his Asgardian upgrade. He could track the Korbinite fleet anywhere in the galaxy and even from another dimension (Asgard). His visual acuity and hearing, in particular, are extraordinarily advanced. He can, when he pays attention, hear whispers of moving beings in the next room. He could even potentially heart a heartbeat or breathing. His eyesight is advanced enough that he could strike a foe from orbit to a planet's surface, then accurately follow them down after they've made impact. He can hurl Stormbreaker accurately across the sorts of distances spaceships engage each other at. Using Stormbreaker, he can refine these abilities even further (see Resources: STORMBREAKER - TRACKING).
SPEED AND REFLEXES:
Beta Ray Bill was built for battle. Literally. The neural pathways of his cyborg body were designed to function at incredible speeds. In their first encounter, he was able to take Thor by surprise and hurl him about the interior of Skuttlebutt a few times before Thor could get his bearings. Bill is fast enough to use Stormbreaker to intercept incoming energy attacks. He can spin it with great enough speed that it functions effectively as a solid shield. In flight (see RESOURCES: STORMBREAKER - FLIGHT), Bill can reach nearly the speed of light once he gets a good head of steam up. He doesn't tend to try and run at incredible speeds so much as -react- and fight at such speed.
SKUTTLEBUTT: More than just a resource, but also a friend and something of a "sibling", Skuttlebutt is a top-of-the-line, interstellar warship of Korbinite make. A unique vessel, Skuttlebutt has a fully sapient AI and is as "alive" as any such thing can be, with his own personality and will (being able to act autonomously), despite being programmed to protect the Korbinite people and follow Bill's orders.
Skuttlebutt is about the size of a large Earth carrier and is extremely over-gunned for its size, being first and foremost a warship designed to defend the Korbinite fleet from Surtur's demons. The array of weaponry Skuttlebutt can bring to bear is formidable, from energy weapons, to remote gun-pods (with their own limited, somewhat quirky AIs) capable of siphoning energy from a target and redirect it, to mass drivers, and so on. Skuttlebutt can target a planet from orbit (and has done so to Ego) and act as a communications platform for other vessels. Skuttlebutt's weaponry is powerful enough to at least stun a Herald of Galactus for a few moments if all weapons power is diverted to the main guns.
It can, of course, travel into hyperspace and is very maneuverable for its size. Skuttlebutt can make planetfall, but tends not to, preferring to remain in space.
In addition, Skuttlebutt contains equipment for carrying a few passengers in stasis (as Bill was) and some areas for additional passengers, although it is not primarily designed to carry or require any crew beyond Bill. He has standard access to communications lines and information as well as a limited ability to tap into things like sattellites and other vessels, but this is not its primary function.
ASGARD: Although the circumstances were exceedingly strange, Beta Ray Bill is considered a citizen of Asgard and is known as a champion to its people. He has made friends there, and while two of them are particularly close (see RESOURCE: THOR AND SIF), he is, in general, viewed with respect and trust. Being worthy of Mjolnir is viewed as a pretty big deal there, as is having led their army against Surtur's forces, as well as aiding Sif when she once ruled the realm. He is on quite good terms with heroes such as the Warriors Three or Baldur, and has a mutually respectful relationship with Odin. He has free access to Asgard as he wishes and can ask its people for aid and support, within reason and depending on the circumstances. He could access the treasury, the archives, request mystical aid, troops, and so on. He takes this very seriously and would not abuse the privilege.
Of note, this is not to say he is universally loved and trusted, the Asgardians, after all, are willful people, and even among the typical citizenry, it is likely there are some that do not trust or like the alien.
THOR AND SIF: Among the Asgardians, two in particular hold a special place in Bill's heart, and he in theirs. Although their first meeting was in battle due to a misunderstanding, Bill and Thor consider each other oath-brothers, holders of a sacred duty, and they actually do have much in common. Bill was the first being to show Thor that others could be worthy of Mjolnir, and taught him some good lessons about humility and duty. In return, Thor taught Bill about the wonders of the cosmos, and the joy to be found in heroism. There is nothing they would not do for each other.
Sif and Bill's relationship is a bit more complex. When they first met, each was drawn to the other (to their surprise) and as they spent more time together, the relationship deepened. For a time, Bill assisted Sif when she was ruler of Asgard, spent time together on Earth, and she journeyed with him for a time among the stars, seeking a new home for his people. Indeed, it was this relationship that was the impetus for transferring Mjolnir's "mortal identity" spell to Stormbreaker. Although they eventually went their seperate ways, their parting was amicable and each still holds the other as the dearest of friends.
STORMBREAKER: Crafted for Beta Ray Bill by the dwarf Eitri and imbued with mighty enchantments by the All-Father himself, the uru hammer, Stormbreaker, is a weapon and tool of incredible power, every bit the equal of its "brother", Mjolnir. It confers and channels many abilities (which are covered in their own listings) but its innate properties and abilities will be covered here.
"Whosoever holds this hammer...". Like Mjolnir, Stormbreaker can only be lifted and wielded by the worthy (in hammer form, anyone can lift it as a walking stick, but not activate it), that being defined by the original enchantment. It basically means those who define the noble warrior ideal of the Asgardians. Bill could potentially designate anyone capable of lifting it should he do so, for as long as he wishes, but in practice, he has not done. so. In addition, any being as or more powerful than Odin could potentially override this ability. Galactus, for example, shouldn't have any trouble holding it.
Stormbreaker, while not indestructable, is an object of staggering durability. It has been used to intercept attacks of cosmic power and could be easily hurled from orbit to a planet's surface (causing incredible devastation) and come through without a scratch. It could be damaged, but only by powers on the order of the Destroyer, the Molecule Man, Celestials, or truly mighty skyfather gods.
Like Mjolnir, Stormbreaker will return to its wielder when thrown, or can be "called" by said wielder. This power functions across space and through dimensions. It has to travel to Bill, and if separated by great distances or many dimensions, this can take some time. This is dependent on Bill's will and concentration, if he is rendered unconscious, the travel will stop (depending on momentum, if he throws it and it starts to return, then he is knocked out, it will keep flying based on its speed at the time before it stops). Few forces are capable of interfering with this ability, only other worthy wielders, beings more powerful than the enchantments, or staggeringly advanced technology with an incredible power source could even hope to do so.
STORMBREAKER - ENERGY MANIPULATION: Although best known for lightning, Stormbreaker can generate, channel, and manipulate most forms of directed energy on a level easily matching or surpassing, (if what Thor's been seen to do is any indication) any Herald of Galactus. Stormbreaker can (and normally must) be physically interposed to absorb incoming energy and then rechannel it at Bill's direction.
Stormbreaker can also be used to channel the internal energy generated by Beta Ray Bill. This energy is partially mystical, partially technological in nature. Under normal circumstances, this is akin to what might be called an "eldritch blast" or the most basic display of a Herald's energy emission powers. However, under extreme circumstances, Bill can replicate something very much akin to the "Godblast" Thor has been seen to create. The consequences would be similarly dire, with its upper output (potentially able to shatter Celestial armour) doing extreme damage to Stormbreaker, Bill, or both.
STORMBREAKER - WEATHER CONTROL: One of, if not -the- signature ability of Stormbreaker is the ability to create and control weather phenomena on a planetary scale. Using it, Beta Ray Bill can create, control, or disrupt any sort of weather pattern that exists naturally, or push them beyond what is normally possible. For example, Bill once created a tornado on Ego, the Living Planet, thousands of miles in diameter and height that channeled raw power from his core into space. Unlike the mutant Storm, Bill does not need any existing weather system to work with and is capable of simply creating the weather phenomena he wishes. He could create a hurricane from a clear sky in moments if he so chooses.
Although capable of destruction on a planetwide scale, Bill can also exert a far more subtle control over weather. He could cause clouds to gently gather and create a warm spring rain, can create gentle breezes, dispel a tornado, or work with a planet's natural weather patterns so as to cause minimal disruption.
Finally, Bill can summon and channel the natural force of electricity (normally in the form of lightning) to a simply extraordinary degree. He can call it from the sky onto a target, absorb it into Stormbreaker and redirect it, or even generate and expel it directly from Stormbreaker. He can do so in any direction he cares to (including omnidirectionally) and his range is essentially dependent on the amount of power he can channel. He could, for example, fire a bolt of lighting from orbit down to a planet's surface. He is also capable, with a bit more effort and finesse, of drawing electrical energy from an unshielded source.
STORMBREAKER - SHIELD: Stormbreaker is not just an offensive weapon, but a defensive one as well. By whirling it in a circle, Beta Ray Bill can use it like a solid shield, with physical and energy attacks striking it instead of him. Through concentration, he can expand this effect into an actual field of power, capable of withstanding any known conventional weapon, and potentially alien and esoteric ones. This ability is of limited use, however, as such a field requires complete focus, meaning that Stormbreaker can only be used for this purpose and none other.
STORMBREAKER - TRANSPORTATION: One of the signature abilities of Stormbreaker is flight. By whirling the hammer about, then hurling it skyward while grasping the leather thong at its end, this ability is activated. This is not really exactly what it looks like. The flight is controlled, course can be changed, and even a sort of basic "hovering" can be achieved. There is even a "lag time" between the release of the hammer and the end of this effect, as neither Bill nor Thor drop like a stone when they throw their hammers in battle while flying. It seems to last just long enough for the hammer to make it back under typical circumstances. In flight, Bill can achieve escape velocity and near-light speed outside of an atmosphere. Although his manuverability is nowhere near that of a being like the Silver Surfer.
The hammer may also be used for gate-based teleportation. By whirling the hammer and discharging energy, a gate may be opened in the fabric of space, dimensions, and even time. Bill can travel to any of the Nine Realms, and even within them if he is not somehow prevented from doing so. For example, he could create a gate from New York to LA, or from Earth to the moon. He can also travel though time, but he seems to require a pre-existing temporal trail to follow (as was the case with Zarrko the Tomorrow Man's time cube).
Travel between dimensions and within one dimension may be extended to a small group of individuals (as seen when Thor and Bill repatriated the Asgardians after the rainbow bridge was destroyed by Surtur), perhaps a dozen or so if need be. Time travel, however, requires the "passengers" to have some means of their own (as when he guided Dargo and Thunderstrike after Zarrko).
STORMBREAKER - TRACKING: One interesting ability Stormbreaker confers on its wielder is the power to track energy emanations across distances and dimensions. This is not apparently an easy ability to master, as Bill had to instruct and guide both Dargo and Thunderstrike in its use. His ability to utilize it so well may have been at least partially derived from his existing skill with his cybernetic senses. He was able to, from its spot of departure, track Zarrko the Tomorrow Man's time cube to its temporal destination after what seemed to be a few minutes of effort, enabling the Thor Corps members to then use their hammers to follow him.
It is important to note that this is not a generic tracking ability and that such emanations may be shielded or disguised by skilled sorcerers or technologies developed specifically to cloak such emanations.
NEW KORBIN: Beta Ray Bill is the chocen protector of the Korbinite people. He led their slumbering population to their new home and helped them settle it. The Korbinites, though a technologically and culturally advanced people, are not averse to the ways of war - the cyborg form of tremendous power they engineered for their prospective champions and the plethora of weaponry on their vessels attests to that. Currently, they are busy reconstructing their civilization and while their leadership has had some disagreements with Bill, he could make use of their resources if dire need presented itself and the Korbinites were under threat in some fashion. Disagreements or not, the majority of the population will not abandon their champion who did, after all, succeed in his mission.
HEROES OF EARTH: While not as well-known as The Mighty Thor by any means, those who are associated with the thunder god, particularly those involved with the battle against the forces of Surtur and Ymir in new York City, know of Bill. Thor speaks highly of him and those who count Thor as not just a comrade in arms, but also a friend, will know of the alien champion. Those who are aware of the enchantment of worthiness on Thor's hammer will likely be particularly inclined to trust another such wielder. As such, Beta Ray Bill could call upon the heroes of Earth, particularly the Avengers, should he have need. Should he have need, he could have their aid in the fight against evil, or even potentially ask for mundane assistance. He has a fairly cordial relationship with S.W.O.R.D., and can be set up with the basic necessities for living on Earth, including legal status befitting a dual citizen of the Korbinite Empire and Asgard.
It is important to note that this is far from all of Earth's protectors. Indeed, there is a significant number of heroes who have probably never even heard of him and would wonder why this horse-faced alien was dressed up like a sci-fi version of Thor.
COSMIC BEINGS: Beta Ray Bill is an alien from an advanced civilization who has been given even greater power by his association with the extradimensional Asgardians. He's battled The Living Planet, he's run across more than one Herald of Galactus. Word gets around among the still physical yet cosmically empowered beings in the universe, and Bill is known as a bit of a wild card on that level. While his heroism and nobility are known, so is his fearsome nature and unwillingness to countenance evil acts. Should he have need, he could contact several of the Heralds of Galactus (like Silver Surfer, Terrax, and even Morg) Adam Warlock, Ganymede, Jack of Hearts, Gladiator, and even Thanos, as well as other such beings and know that they are likely to at least hear him out.
APPEARANCE: Beta Ray Bill has an "issue" regarding his appearance. His cyborg body, and now "Thor-form", was genetically engineered and cybernetically augmented from a the most vicious, predatory animal in the Korbinite empire. He looks like a highly muscular, orange-skinned humanoid with a head that strikes many humans as an earless, noseless, equine death's head. This is considered intimidatingly monstrous by Korbinite (and many races') standards. In his original form, he is a muscular (though not as bulky), orange-skinned humanoid with no hair, nose, or external ears. While he is apparently considered ruggedly handsome by Korbinite standards, on Earth he stands out when his features or skin can be seen.
ERRANT: Beta Ray Bill has a strong sense of duty. That being said, he has a tendency to get sidetracked when a noble cause presents itself. While his initial interactions with the Asgardians did involve battling the forces of his people's enemies (Surtur and his demons), he spent a great deal of effort defending Asgard and Earth as well. He also got into a bad situation with Ego, the Living Planet while trying to lead the Korbinite fleet to a new home. He has been called out by his superiors for this and was even asked to surrender Stormbreaker because they viewed his actions as outside the context of his actual mission. He isn't distractible in a shallow way, but he can be convinced to attend to other worthwhile matters while still involved in an ongoing task.
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY: Beta Ray Bill is a man of honour. Because of this, he can sometimes blame himself, or take responsibility for, things that he isn't technically responsible for. When he defeated Thor in Skartheim, his guilt over depriving a good and noble hero of his birthright caused him to agonize over just taking possession of Mjolnir despite that fact that it was Odin's decision to have the contest, and the Asgardians seemed saddened, but perfectly willing to abide by the results. When Ego ended up attacking the Korbinite fleet, Bill can't have known that approaching that being would have had that result, but he did not try to defend his actions when his superiors questioned the judgment call that got some of their peopled killed. Once he falls into this sort of thinking, he's going to stay there a while, trying to make things right, which can lead to some poor decisions.
STORMBREAKER: Stormbreaker is a weapon with few equals in the universe. However, it is also the conduit for many of Beta Ray Bill's fabulous powers. Without it, he is incredibly strong, durable, swift, long-lived, and has cyborg senses, but his powers of weather control, flight, energy abilities, tracking energy signatures, and teleportals are lost to him. Also, if he is in his original form and loses access to the walking stick Stormbreaker becomes, he cannot transform to his "Thor-form" without retrieving it or using Mjolnir for that purpose.
ENEMIES: Beta Ray Bill is a mighty champion and has allies of great power. However, he has also made some incredibly formidable enemies as well. From Surtur to Ymir, Ego to Tyrant, these are some of the most dangerous non-abstract beings in the cosmos. In addition, any enemy of Thor or Asgard would gladly take their vengeance upon his alien oath-brother. He may very well be caught up in events that have nothing directly to do with him because of this.
OUTSIDER: Beta Ray Bill is lauded by most of his people, loved and trusted by many Asgardians, and thought of as a pretty decent sort by some heroes on Earth and in space. However, there seems to be nowhere that is truly home to him. He has had difficulties staying on New Korbin, as beloved as he is he is not actually an Asgardian, and he is an alien on Earth. It seems wherever he goes, no matter how he is seen, he will not be able to simply blend into a culture in a normal or unobtrusive fashion.
