Pandemic

Dr. Josh Harrington was an Emerald City research pa­thologist tasked with eliminating the threat posed to humanity by super bugs. Dr. Harrington believed that a disease-free future could be found by studying extrater­restrial DNA harvested from super-powered volunteers. Confident that he was on the verge of a breakthrough and threatened with the closure of his project, he injected an array of dangerous bacteria into alien cells and the results were catastrophic. The bacteria absorbed the alien DNA and began to replicate itself at an astonishing rate. Dr. Harrington’s protective gear was overwhelmed by the microbes, and before he could decontaminate himself, he succumbed to the disease. Unfor­tunately, that wasn’t the end for Dr. Harrington. The alien DNA granted a malevolent sentience to the bacteria; the augmented cells latched onto his nervous system, reanimating the doctor’s body and dragging it out of the research facility.
Using the doctor’s corpse, the bacteria escaped into the city and entered the sewers where it explored and learned about its environment and existence. It warped Dr. Harrington’s body, bloating and scarring it beyond recognition to create a home for itself. The bacteria repro­duced at an unprec­edented rate, filling its new home to the brim with all manner of contaminants. In a matter of days, the creature that would become known as Pandemic was ready to spread its pathogens. Pandemic was able to access Harrington’s memories and the bacteria realized that Dr. Harrington and people like him wanted to eliminate all diseases across the world. Faced with the threat of extinction and terrified for its sur­vival, Pandemic formulated a plan: it would infect every­one in the world, until it was safe.
With access to Harrington’s expertise as a research pa­thologist, Pandemic devised experiments to increase how contagious and potent it was. The creature started small, working on the vermin of Emerald City. It dunked portions of itself into water, allowed rats to feast on its putrid flesh, and coughed and sneezed onto birds and other creatures to spread diseases and adapt quickly.
Pandemic learned that it could harness mul­tiple diseases to affect its hosts in diverse ways. It had diseases of the brain that could turn creatures into its unwilling slaves. It had infections of the body that could sap a person’s strength or eat the flesh off their bones. Most dangerous of all, though, was the fact that once a creature was infected it would spread the bacteria to whomever it came into contact with, allowing Pandemic to do massive amounts of damage in a short amount of time. Now that it has mastered its powers, Pandemic is ready to infect the world.

Physical Description

Special abilities

Pandemic is the master of disease and can ravage its enemies’ bodies in a variety of ways. It can spread itself into the mind of its enemies, forcing them to act against their wills. It also uses a number of contagions that cause physical ailments, from weakness to drowsiness, and it can even shut down major organs. Its powers are also contagious, which makes its enemies as dangerous to each other as it is. Pandemic is a slow and lumbering op­ponent, but it is far from defenseless. Its bloated and scab-riddled body is almost impervious to harm. Its bacterial form also makes it immune to most conventional attacks and anyone who puts their hands on it is affected by a fast-acting, flesh-eating bacteria.

Mental characteristics

Intellectual Characteristics

As a plague-ridden zombie, Pandemic isn’t particularly talkative. It marches on in silence, viewing every living thing as real estate for its bacteria. Pandemic isn’t dumb though; Harrington’s intelligence occasionally shines through. Pandemic is an excellent problem solver and is innately curious about life forms it’s never encountered before. It analyzes variables in any situation before proceeding and always follows the path of least resistance.

Social

Contacts & Relations

In addition to the CDC and heroes all over the world, Pan­demic has drawn the ire of Pack-Rat and his gang of Rats in the Wall. Pack-Rat objects to Pandemic’s experiments on the vermin of Emerald City’s and the two have come to blows over their shared sewer environment.