Tyler Steele
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Tyler Steele was a character in the VR Troopers television series, produced by Saban Entertainment. Tyler Steele was the father of Ryan Steele. He was captured during an ambush and, throughout the first series of the show, the search for Tyler Steele was a running theme of the plot.
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[edit] First series
Tyler Steele was the father of Ryan Steele and was the co-developer of "inter-reality travel" alongside Professor Hart. During an archaeological dig, Steele and Hart were ambushed by Karl Ziktor, aka Grimlord (although they never saw his face). During the ambush, Tyler was captured, Hart was seriously injured, and Grimlord gained the powers that made him a force to be reckoned with against the V.R. Troopers, who Hart later recruited to fight Grimlord in the wake of his new powers and mutant army. The search for Tyler Steele became the most character-driven backstory in the series for much of its first season, every episode of the series even beginning and ending with Ryan reminiscing at the temple that he and his father trained and bonded at, pondering when he would see him again.
[edit] "Defending Dark Heart" episodes
Tyler finally emerged in the series' present day continuity in what many consider the series' greatest episodes: the four part "Defending Dark Heart". It is revealed that Tyler was transformed into one of Grimlord's mutant soldiers, the "Dark Heart" of the title. Darkheart was deployed to face and destroy Ryan. After failing to do so, Grimlord ordered his minions to carry out Dark Heart's execution. Dark Heart fought back and fled from Grimlord while slowly overcoming his influence. With the help of his son's memories, Dark Heart became Tyler Steele again in mind, but not yet body. Then, J.B. and Professor Hart worked on a solution to devirtualize Tyler, only to make a shocking discovery. Tyler was linked directly to Grimlord himself, and the only way to sever that link was killing Grimlord. Grimlord retaliated, and bombed the Troopers' lab to retrieve his "property". Tyler gave himself up to save Ryan, Katlin, and J.B from harm. Grimlord then issued Ryan an invitation to rescue Tyler without the aide of his fellow Troopers. Ryan accepted knowing it was a trap. Tyler's rescue was successful and both father and son proceeded to destroy Grimlord. After confronting Grimlord in the Virtual Dungeon, Grimlord activated a self destruct sequence as a last ditch attempt to destroy the Steeles. Tyler and Ryan survived and assumed Grimlord was dead. This, however, was just a ploy, as Grimlord could not be so easily defeated. Decimator, Grimlord's best swordsman, suddenly appeared and made a near fatal attack on Tyler. Shortly after Decimator retreated, Tyler's body was restored. The tearful reunion between father and son was short lived as Grimlord revealed himself, alive and well. He transported Tyler out of Ryan's grasp before his very eyes.
[edit] "Quest for Power" episodes
Tyler would return in a cameo appearance in the first season once more, providing proof to Ryan and the Troopers that Grimlord had not killed him yet. The reason for that was revealed in the five part "Quest For Power" saga, which redefined the series format. Tyler's mind is copied and scanned into an energy prism, which Grimlord uses to create a new virtual lair, appearance, and army. Ryan, again finding a link to Tyler's whereabouts, infiltrated the dungeon to find his father. Once more, Grimlord self destructed his lair, but Ryan and Tyler escape in time. Tyler, close to death from the energy drain, is eventually saved with the aid of Ryan, Katlin, and J.B's Sensei, Tao, and his knowledge of ancient healing techniques. Upon recovering, Tyler was finally reunited with Ryan in full health, this time, for good.
[edit] Departure from the series
Tyler would go on to create new powers, armour, weapons, and vehicles for Ryan, whose original V.R. powers had been decimated in his last few conflicts with Grimlord. He departed the series for good when he decided to travel with a fellow scientist to a research facility dedicated full time to the destruction of Grimlord.
Tyler Steele was played by David Carr. Dark Heart was voiced by Kerrigan Mahan and later by Richard Epcar.
