Chase Stein

Origin

Chase is the son of two extremely clever inventors but he often comes into conflict with his father over his average school grades and the fact he would rather play sports and work out than study for school. The conflict comes to blows just before the yearly trip to the Wilder home, while at the Wilder house Chase and the other kids discover that there parents are part of an evil group called the Pride, they witness their parents kill a prostitute. Later that night the group discovered more about the Pride, as they search around their homes and discovered things like Old Lace and that Karolina Dean is an alien, while at Chase's home Chase takes his parents' Fistigons and x-rays goggles. At the same night happened their first confrontation with some members of the Pride, when they only escaped thanks to Old Lace. They manage to rescue Molly and escape to a cave that Chase found where no one could find them. They named the cave " The Hostel" and Chase attempted to take the name "Neo" after the main character from the Matrix Trilogy, but was given the name "Talkback" instead.

Creation

Chase Stein was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona and first appeared in Runaways #1 (2003).

Major Story Arcs

Runaways

Chase stayed with the group of Runaways and fought his parents, whom eventually where killed. Chase began dating Gertrude Yorkes, one of his teammates and became a valuable asset to the team. Chase was romantically linked with Gertrude Yorkes, who was killed by a time-displaced Geoffrey Wilder from 1985. The emotional pain of having his girlfriend die in his arms drove him to offer up his own soul to the Gibborim in exchange for saving Gert's life.The deal was however not made and Chase now was mentally linked to Getruda'a pet dinosaur Old Lace. This mental connection was the only way he still had some bond with Gertruda, and Chase became very protective of the creature.

Civil War

The effects of her death were still evident during the events of Civil War, as Chase would often lash out at people due to his frustration at not being able to save his girlfriend. Molly Hayes, the youngest member of the team, suffered the most from this as she looked up to Chase as the older brother she never had and had never experienced the distance and anger he displayed. Chase only realized how much Molly cared for him when she was nearly knocked unconscious by Noh-Varr while attempting to save Old Lace, one of the only things that Gert left behind in memory of her.

Almost Died

Chase remained with the Runaways after the Civil War after witch the team traveled back in time to the late 1900's where they even befriended some mutant-like girls. One of these girls, Klara Prast joined the team back into the precent where she fought alongside the team during the Secret Invasion of the Skulls. After this, the team moves into a villa of Chase's parents where they live a relatively peacefull life. Chase already was sort of a big brother towards Molly Hayes but now also became so for Klara. However disaster struck soon. The team was attacked with a rocket launcher and while this attack endured, Old Lace protected Klara, killing the creature himself instead. The assailant was defeated, but Chase was more depressed then ever when he lost the one thing that linked him to his lost love Gertrude. Chase left the team for some while and went into the big city. There he seemingly saw Gertrude standing at the end of a street. Baffled, Chase ran up to her, but was hit by a car and lay seemingly dead on the ground while the person that looked like Gertrude left the scene. Note: It is not revealed how Chase survived, or what happened to the Gertrude he thought he saw since the series was abruptly cancelled. It is however known that Chase apparently survived the accident, since he is later seen with his team when they visit Avenger Academy and briefly fight with the students there.

Avengers Arena

Chase, along with 15 other superpowered teenagers including his teammate Nico, was kidnapped by Arcade and taken to Murderworld. There, they are told that only one would be allowed to leave alive.

Powers

Chase has displayed a level of technical savvy that comes at an unnatural rate, manipulating and understanding machinery without even knowing why or how he does. This was most evident when he bonded with the younger Vision during their encounter with the Young Avengers. If this is a genetic trait that was passed on from his parents or rather signs of untapped intelligence has yet to be established.

Chase has at times used a switchblade in battle. Originally, he was in possession of The Fistigons, a pair of pyrokinetic gauntlets as well as a pair of X-Ray goggles. The goggles allowed him to see through clothing, walls and even miles of rock. The gloves allowed him to shape flames into any form he desired. They were destroyed by Nico Minoru when Alex Wilder had possession of them at the end of the first volume of The Runaways.

He has since inherited Gertrude's psychic link with her Deinonychus, Old Lace. As well as being able to communicate telepathically with Old Lace, Chase empathically feels its pain. Old Lace also empathically feels his own pain.