Arsenic

## **History**

### **Chase Stein: 2002 - Present**

The accidental conception of Chase Stein is the event that led his parents and the other members of the Pride to decide to pass on their inheritance from the Gibborim to their children. Chase's parents, Victor and Janet Stein made a fortune from inventing a tool that removes stickers from CD's, but as scientists/engineers they actually created weapons, tech, and transport for The Pride. He is described as a high school lacrosse player who likes to give of himself the false image of the dumb athlete, but who’s actually quite a brilliant engineer… not that this comes as a surprise, considering that his parents are quite the stereotypical mad scientists.

During Chase's childhood, a business associate in the Los Angeles crime scene, "Creep Uncle Eli", often visited. When his parents finally cut off ties with him, Eli came into Chase's room as a threat to his parents. For his sixteenth birthday, Chase asked for a plain white van because he wanted anonymity and the secret desire to just disappear one day.[11] Around this time, Chase discovered The Hostel after reading about a "missing mansion" in one of his father's books. Chase began spending time at this location because it was "off the beaten track". He later purchased a sign warning of a lethal radiation testing site to prevent others from exploring his haunt. Not long after receiving his van, Chase accidentally ran over his Uncle Hunter after Hunter had an argument with his parents. Chase believed Hunter died that night and taken care of by his parents, but he somehow survived.

Along with Alex Wilder, Nico Minoru, and Gertrude Yorkes, Chase witnessed his parents and the Pride sacrifice Destiny Gonzales for the Ritual of Blood.[12]

While searching for evidence, Chase commandeered some of the weapons from his father's workshop including the *Fistigons* and *X-Ray Specs*.

After rescuing Molly and narrowly escaping their parents, Chase suggested the group take refuge in The Hostel. Chase received the codename "**Arsenic**" from Gert's sarcastic remark about his habit of talking back. Chase's insecurity and stubbornness often put him at odds with the other Runaways, but particularly with Gert. As the only Runaway with a driver's license, Chase transported the team in his unmarked white van.

After infiltrating the Marine Vivarium to confront the Pride, Chase nearly drown trying to protect his friends from the defensive security golem. It was Talkback who administered CPR and saved his life. This led to the pairs first kiss and the culmination of their romantic tension. Still weak from his near-death, Chase passed on his Fistigons and X-Ray Specs to Alex Wilder. After Alex's betrayal and saving the team, Chase, piloting the Leapfrog, was able to rescue the other Runaways and escape in the before the Gibborim destroyed the Marine Vivarium killing all the members of the Pride.

After narrowly escaping the destruction of the Marine Vivarium, the Runaways were immediately apprehended by Captain America and placed into foster care. Chase told the authorities that he was going live with an aunt in Anaheim, but provide the P.O.Box address he used to receive pornographic magazines. Chase had completely disappeared until weeks later after a text message from Karolina when he and the other Runaways reconvened at the Griffith Observatory. Together they decided to retrieve Old Lace and the Leapfrog, and run away again.

The Runaways eventually located one of the Pride's old lairs beneath the La Brea Tar Pits, and took up residence there. They also began defending Los Angeles from all of the villains trying to fill the power vacuum left by the absence of the Pride. With the Fistigons destroyed, Chase's primary responsibility in the group became piloting the Leapfrog.