Along Came a Spider
HEMO Industries resided in the company-owned outskirts of the Redwoods in Northern California, away from public eyes. The organization's focus revolved around dark science; specifically in the study of cross-species genetics. Their goal was to create perfect human beings, liberated from the constraints of mortal diseases and weaknesses. In order to achieve this, human DNA would need to be genetically fused with the DNA of a different organism, like an animal. A famous theory suggested that if a patient without an arm were to have his genetic structure crossed with reptilian DNA, a complete cellular regeneration of the his missing appendage could be possible; since reptiles are known to regrow lost body parts, due to their remarkable biology.
Scientists in the Cross-Species Genetics Department would use rodents as test subjects, to manipulate their biological make-up by injecting them with formulated serums of various species. Most subjects died, except for a few. Those dosed with the contents of spider DNA astonishingly survived and inherited arachnid-like attributes, such as wall-crawling and uncanny reflexes. With a breakthrough, HEMO was prepared to begin the next radical steps towards human trials. Death row inmates from nearby county prisons were brought in for testing, under a "shadow contract." Despite the company's optimism, all of the subjects would perish during the grueling process.
Human trials would be put on hold, and HEMO would need start again from the beginning. However, it wouldn't be long before they would continue where they left off. Instead of the human trials, the science division would direct their attention to a controversial initiative, in hopes of better understanding the limits of cross-species genetics. Their intention was to breed a genetically-engineered human, one that would be crossed with spider DNA. The lead geneticist, Dr. Charles Smith, would incorporate his own genetic structure to create an artificial embryo. The embryo would be called "A-1." Its unatural biology was tampered with, so that A-1's gender would be male.
He would mature inside a tube designed to sustain him alive, until he reached infancy. A-1 would then be relocated to larger containment chamber, where he was assigned a company cartetaker, Ms. Betty Winters. Winters was a 50-year-old woman who never married, but adored children passionately. She took the child as her surrogate son, and he took her as his mother. When she overheard Smith's plan to utilize A-1's spider blood as a means to create an army of spider-men for a black market group, Winters set the genetics lab on fire and left the building in a van, with A-1 in her arms. The two would be pursued by HEMO employees over the Bay Bridge, where they would lose sight of them in an exit. Having lost the cars behind them, Winters reluctantly decided to leave A-1 in front of a porch in Oakland, praying the owners of the small home would take care of the young child. But before she said her farewell to A-1, the good caretaker gave him an antidote, so that he may no longer be plagued by his unique blood and dark past.
A Fresh Start
Aaron Armstrong grew up in a shaky African-American household. It wasn't always like that. He was adopted by the Armstrongs-- Ned and Tara Armstrong. They loved their new son dearly. Ned was a highly-respected police officer, and Tara was a homemaker. Life seemed perfect, until a tragedy shaped their lives in an unimaginable way. Mrs. Armstrong and an 8-year-old Aaron were involved in a car accident one fateful day. Aaron survived with minor injuries, but his mother did not. Her death devastated Ned's spirits deeply.
In the coming years of the aftermatch, Ned would lose his job and become an alcoholic. He would even stoop down as to join a local Oakland gang and be arrested multiple times for theft and obstruction of property. However, Tara's death would not deter Aaron from trying to live an honest life. Aaron was an honors student in high school, with very few friends. Being the prodigy that he was, Armstrong would go on to receive prestigious science awards. Because of his reputation for being a good student, he would be bullied constantly for it.
One day returning from school, a bruised Aaron was confronted by a drunk Ned. Mr. Armstrong was unhappy with his son's cowardice and inability to defend himself. In his frustrated stupor, Ned physically attacked him. And in that moment, a chemical reaction triggered Aaron's hidden potential. His superhuman strength sent Ned flying out a window. Winter's antidote did not cure him of his spider blood, but merely only kept it sedated until he matured.
Ned would be admitted to a hospital, and Aaron would have to stay at his friend's house for a duration of time. During this time, Armstrong would reflect on his newfound powers. His abilities would be used to wreak revenge on his bullies, in one occassion. This little stunt would conclude with Aaron's friend--Chico-- being brutally beaten to near-death by gang members, one being one of the bullies that was humiliated by Aaron. The 15-year-old sought to defeat Chico's attackers, but this time, he would wear a black ski mask over his head as a disguise. After a successful victory and having savored the thrill of crime-fighting, Aaron feverishly worked to design stunning costume. His inspirations behind the appearance of his alter-ego were spiders in regard to his arachnid-like powers, so he sewed together a black and red spandex, with red webbing designs on the upper torso and a spider logo on the chest.
The Legend Begins
"The Spider" became a local legend in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eyewitnesses report seeing a black figure swinging around their neighborhoods, thwarting crime and disasters. Police usually find a red spider symbol, believed to have been left by the masked vigilante, at the scene of the crimes. No one knows why he does what he does or who he is, not even The Spider himself. Does he do what he does because he actually cares for others? Or does he do it because he has a vain complex? Maybe he's just bored.Sometimes Aaron wonders why he was born with the curse of The Spider.
While there was some appreciation of the masked vigilante's heroics, the overall reception was negative. The local press dismissed The Spider as a public menace, and as a result, a police warrant was issued for his capture.
The police weren't the only ones out to get Aaron. An old and familiar threat was on the prowl, looking to take back what was theirs. HEMO Industries hired a bounty hunter to catch Aaron. The hunter assaulted The Spider one night. Though the battle was long and brutal, Armstrong had the winning edge. In a submissive state, the bounty hunter was interrogated. He revealed that he was sent by HEMO, Aaron's maker. Armstrong would later break into the industries, in search of answers. Charles Smith approached him, with an army of Aaron duplicates beside him.
The Spider was informed of his true origin. He was genetically created to serve an unamed terrorist group, as the perfect weapon. Charles Smith was in fact, his estranged father. Many years ago, a former HEMO Industries employee abducted him, so that he could live a normal life. Her efforts were futile. When rumors spread of a spider-man, Smith knew it was A-1-- their lost product. And so, inside men working for the company, infiltrated media outlets and sought to discredit The Spider's reputation as a protector of the people.
A fight quickly ensued between Armstrong and his clones, which concluded in the destruction of the HEMO Industries tower and the death of Charles Smith, who was caught in the explosion. Everyone--with the exception of The Spider-- appeared to have died in the fire. The distraught vigilante left the scene, to visit Ned at the hospital. He gazed at his sleeping father, from behind a window. Aaron felt apologetic for hurting the only man he considered his real father. He knew Ned was a good man, and that deep inside, he still was that caring man who took him in and raised him as an infant.
The Spider would eventually leave Oakland, knowing that he was no longer needed in his city. He would travel far, away from HEMO Industries and his past, not knowing where to find a place where he could belong.
Powers and Equipment
Wall-Crawling: Hundreds of small barbed-hairs on his finger tips and toes allow Aaron to clingingly scale virtually any surface, even over his own web constructs. His natural wall-climbing mechanism can even work through a variety of clothing, only if the fabric is thin enough to be penetrated by the spider hairs.
Spider-like Physique: His genetically-created body has given The Spider extraordinary superhuman feats such as:
- Superhuman Strength-- Capable of lifting up to 10 tons.
- Superhuman Speed-- Capable of running at the speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
- Superhuman Reflexes and Agility-- Superior reflexes and agility than the average human.
- Superhuman Durability and Healing-- Stronger resistance to physical and mental damage; as well as illnesses. Faster health regeneration.
- Superhuman Jumps-- Capable of jumping 30 feet high and 50 feet across.
- Greater Flexibility-- Nimbler movements give Aaron an edge, whether to win a hand-to-hand to brawl or needing to make a quick escape out of an ugly situation.
- Heightened Senses-- The primary senses-- sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch-- are greatly enhanced.
Spider-Sense: A built-in precognitive alarm within his brain, gives the arachnid hero the radar-like ability to be warned of a potential danger, crucial moments before happening. The tingling sensation from his skull works as a fail-safe lifeline. If The Spider fails to naturally perceive a threat from his own will, his senses will pick up the motion frequences and his spider instincts will allow him to automatically act, even without being fully conscience. This mechanism also allows him to react to dangers in area he can't completely see, like darkness. Even if slightly unconscience, the spider-sense may still be triggered.
Camouflage: This ability allows Armstrong to photographically imitate his surroundings precisely, rendering his appearance as a transparent silhouette, though not completely invisible.
Venom Touch: As a last resort, The Spider may use the small deposits of arachnid venom under his figernails to touch an enemy and send a paralyzing poison into his or her bloodstream, making them unable to move temporarily. Though not fatal, the venom is excruciatingly painful. Because of its limited quantity, the user can only use it once(or twice) at a time and will need to wait an hour before more venom is chemically produced.
Parkour: Aaron is an exceptional freerunner and can manuever over any terrain with finesse and ease. Though never having had training in the martial arts, the teenager has learned to take advantage of his experience in free roaming and to apply it with his spider powers, to create his own form of stylized fighting. Afterall, he was raised in the gritty streets; which has given him knowledge on how to use the environment in his favor.
Web-Shooters: Being the genius that he is, Armstrong reverse-engineered artificial webbing that he looted from HEMO Industries and manufactured his own mechanical wrist-shooters, that would become the signature trademark for which he's most known for. Strong adhesive web is stored inside a cartridge. Once the supply grows empty, it is replaced by a new container and is slipped into the web-shooter. The strength of the silky material is measured to 125 pounds, capable of stopping large, heavy objects in their tracks, depending on the amount used or how it's used.
The web-shooters come with customized shooting settings, allowing The Spider to spin different web contructs of all shapes and sizes. One of its main uses is for web-swinging, in order to get from-place-to-place under a short time, by connecting thin web lines across buildings and using their structures as swaying support. On average, The Spider swings at the speeds of 80 MPH; however, he is very much able to surpass that velocity.
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